…Says it won’t dignify ADC with comment, advises aggrieved person to seek legal redress
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described its outstanding victories in last weekend’s legislative bye-election across 12 states in the country as vote of confidence from Nigerians on the ruling party.
While commenting on their performances, Deputy National Organising Secretary, Chidi Nze Duru, told Daily Sun that the victory was a validation that the ruling party is gaining more grounds.
Asked his impression about the party’s outing during the bye-election, Duru, a former member of House of Representatives, said: “Our performance was very incredible and a pointer to the fact that APC still remains the main political party in Nigeria.”
“The victories come with a signal that there is still light at the end of the tunnel for APC remaining the ruling party. Yes, things may be tough and difficult, but the victory and confidence Nigerians reposed in APC comes with the conception that things will generally improve.
“We saw APC winning in Adamawa, an opposition state, Taraba, another opposition state, and even in North East and some places in the core northern region of the country. We also won in the South West and South East of Nigeria.
“The victory was a validation that the party is gaining more grounds. It is a reminder to us, as a political party, to keep doing what we are doing well and improving on the policies. This is a vote of confidence from the general public. As for the Anambra bye-election, the outcome is not unexpected,” he noted.
The deputy organising secretary equally reacted to the allegations from the ADC that APC manipulated the election, urging the coalition opposition party to seek legal redress.
“I was not at those places and have not gotten the comprehensive reports of what may have transpired from those on the field, so I may not want to make a categorical statement on that subject matter.
“However, if there are credible evidences that can be relied on, it is a matter that can be brought before the relevant adjudicatory arm of the state, which is the judiciary. They should lodge formal complaints through law enforcement agencies like the police, presenting facts and evidences of such claims.
“As a party, we encourage the opposition and have done everything possible to see that opposition parties are not in any way dismantled. As a ruling party, we always encourage the opposition because we were once in opposition,” he advised.
In his own reactions, the National Secretary of the ruling, Ajibola Basiru, told Daily Sun that: “We cannot dignify failed politicians with response on their usual contrived customary falsehood.
“Rather we appreciate Nigerians for coming out to again demonstrate that APC is their favorite political party in all elections,” he said.
