The Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has rejected the result of the governorship election in the state as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Commission had on Sunday, March 24, after the supplementary election declared incumbent governor of the state Samuel Ortom, winner of the election.
However, the APC said the result was unacceptable to it stating that it would explore all constitutional and legal options available to ensure the votes of the people counted “as it will not accept a stolen election.”
The Secretary, Jime/ Ode Campaign Organisation, Prof. Eugene Aliegba made this known in a press statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi.
Aliegba noted that “when the party was going into the contest, we were well aware of the fact that only one of two outcomes were possible; either we won fairly in line with the massive support we earned from the people; or another winner emerged through a credible and transparent process.
“We did not anticipate a third option that confers advantage to those who played dubiously outside the laid down rules of the game.
“And because the results announced in favour of Governor Ortom and the PDP is a direct product of brutal violence, vote buying, ballot-stuffing, results-falsification, non use of the card reader and a range of other irregularities that have no place in our electoral laws, we are making it unequivocally clear that the Benue APC will explore all constitutional and legal options available to ensure the votes of the people count.
READ ALSO: Kano: PDP Candidate Warns of ‘Unprecedented Political Crisis’ If Ganduje is Declared Winner
“In simple terms, we will make a case before the Elections Petitions Tribunal to subject the Benue governorship elections result to an integrity test.”
Aliegba said if the Benue APC opted otherwise, it would be as guilty as those who have undertaken acts that undermined democracy adding that they have rather chosen to take action that insulated democracy from practices that threatened it.
He therefore urged APC supporters to exhibit the highest level of calmness, even in the face of provocation, until victory was achieved.
He thanked the Benue electorate for coming out in their numbers to participate in the national and state elections, including the supplementary polls despite the challenges, hiccups and irregularities witnessed in the run up to and during the polls.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who were victims of the needless violence that characterised the conduct of the polls in Benue. As a peace loving party, we are saddened by reports of casualties, in some cases fatalities, and condemn such barbaric violence visited on voters and electoral officers in what ought to be a peaceful exercise.
“To our supporters and all those who filed out to vote for the Jime/Ode ticket, we extend our deepest gratitude for all they gave to our aspiration…They have our full assurance that as a party that believes in democracy, we will not accept a stolen election.
