The All Progressives Congress, APC has described judgement that nullified the election of Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Candidate, PDP, as governor of Rivers State as a deadly body blow to impunity and hooliganism.
The APC in a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated that the judgement has shown clearly that the era of impunity and hooliganism is over.
Lai Mohammed said the only way for elections to have legitimacy is for them to be free, fair and credible.
Acccording to him, ”what has come across from this judgement is that there is no shortcut to free, fair and credible elections. This is part of the wind of change that is blowing across the land and touching all arms of government under the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Elections are about the expression of the will of the people, and they must always be free to express themselves, irrespective of what some desperate politicians may feel.”
Politicians, especially those seeking or occupying elective office, must realize that they can only derive their legitimacy from the people, and that unless they respect the wishes of the people, they will not go far, the APC said in the statement.
It applauded its governorship candidate in Rivers, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, for his doggedness and strong conviction in the pursuit of his petition against the election of Wike that was not only marred by widespread violence and electoral malfeasance, but also acknowledged to be so by local and international observers – and now by the judiciary.
The APC has called on their members and supporters in the state to remain peaceful, even in the face of provocation by those who are now realizing, to their chagrin, that there is always a limit to everything, including impunity and hooliganism.
