The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially disputed the outcome of the Bayelsa State governorship election, following the declaration of the incumbent governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Douye Diri, as the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This rejection was voiced by the state APC agent, Dennis Otiotio, during an interaction with journalists.
After INEC’s State Returning Officer, Prof Kuta Farouq, announced Governor Diri’s victory in the election, Otiotio refrained from signing the results sheets, indicating the party’s non-acceptance of the declared results. He argued that the APC would have secured victory if not for the alleged voiding of over 84,000 votes by INEC that were in favor of the APC.
Otiotio accused INEC of collaborating with the ruling PDP to cancel votes that were cast for the APC. This claim raises serious allegations of electoral malpractice and partiality, suggesting a possible legal challenge or demand for a review of the election process by the APC.NYSC Portal
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The APC’s rejection of the election results in Bayelsa State highlights the contentious nature of electoral contests in Nigeria, where allegations of vote manipulation and unfair practices often mar the democratic process. This development could lead to further scrutiny of the election procedures and the need for transparent and fair electoral practices in the country.
He said, “Over 84, 000 votes scored by the APC in Nembe and Southern Ijaw were cancelled. So we will not be signing this result. In Nembe over 29,000 votes that the l APC scored were cancelled. In Southern Ijaw, over 54,000 votes that the APC scored were cancelled.
“If you add the total cancelled votes that the APC scored which were about 84, 806 votes, if you add it to what the party scored here (at the collation centre), APC clearly won the election.JAMB Result
“But it is clear that INEC has colluded, connived with the PDP to cancel (it) here in this INEC office, not on the field. The votes were brought from Forms EC8A and EC8B down here, and at this INEC office here, they decided to cancel over 84,000 votes scored by the APC.
“It is unprecedented, it has never happened anywhere and we are totally rejecting this result.”InformationGuideNigeria
Otiotio, who is also the state chairman of the APC, said the party had already written the necessary petition to challenge the collation process.
Responding to a question on what action the party would take, he said, “Well, the Electoral Act allows INEC to review the results within seven days, and we have written the necessary petition which we have delivered, believing that INEC in good conscience, will look at our petition and deal with it accordingly.”
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