The Young Progressive Party (YPP) has condemned the irregularities that marred the Presidential election stressing that it was rigged in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC.
The YPP in a statement on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Egbeola Wale Martins, said it was sad that the just-concluded elections, which postponement cost the nation about N500 billion, which ought to have been an improvement on that of 2015 may end up lacking in credibility on account of the widespread irregularities and violence recorded in many parts of Nigeria.
The party said that “the intimidation, maiming and killings of about forty citizens in some States of the Federation such as Rivers, Lagos, Kaduna and Bayelsa where we can confirm that there was massive rigging by both the APC and PDP will make the 2019 elections one of the most violent in our recent history.
“The Prof. Yakubu Mahmood led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) obviously never learnt anything from the sudden postponement as the shabbily conducted 2019 general elections saw the flouting of the electoral guidelines on the use of card readers to authenticate voters in many parts of the country especially in States like Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe and Borno thereby giving room for unprecedented manipulations,” the party said.
The party also said that it observed that the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the 2018 Electoral Act Amendment Bill cost him the opportunity to deepen Nigeria’s democracy and his deliberate refusal borne out of his selfish ambition to profit from a flawed electoral system is responsible for the many irregularities and violence that characterized the just concluded elections.
“It is indeed a big shame to the APC led government on the other hand that failed to reciprocate the patriotic zeal of Nigerians by providing adequate security and a level playing ground for a transparent electoral process that would have reflected the expectations of the people and just like posterity is currently judging the PDP, it will certainly judge the APC in no distant time.
“The Young Progressives Party after careful assessment of available facts upon proper consultation with relevant stakeholders unequivocally reject the results of the Presidential election declaring President Muhammadu Buhari as winner.
“Neither APC nor PDP would have deserved to win the Presidential election as both participated in massive rigging that led to the outrageous figures churned out in their perceived strongholds. Our party would not have had any problem accepting the results if it emanated from a transparent process,” the party said.
It however, condemned all those calling for civil disobedience or urging the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to run a parallel government, adding that this call is ill-conceived and capable of disrupting the fragile peace in the nation. “All Nigerians are implored to remain calm, eschew violence and go about their legitimate businesses because the blood of a single Nigerian is not worth the ambition of any politician.
“While the PDP continue to battle with karma for their misgovernance of 16 years due to their deliberate refusal to build strong institutions and strengthen the electoral system when they had the opportunity, we urge the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to shun the advice of unpatriotic elements and approach the tribunal in hope that the judiciary will deliver justice,” the party said.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
