Gov’ship Polls: APC Backs INEC’s Postponement, Pleads With Commission To Preserve BVAS Data

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its decision to postpone the governorship and State House of Assembly elections previously scheduled for March 11.

WITHIN NIGERIA understands that the ruling party, according to a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said it will respect the commission’s decision to postpone the election.

The APC, on the other hand, pleaded with INEC to keep its promise to the court about preserving and protecting the integrity of the data extracted from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Following the order of the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, the electoral umpire rescheduled the planned governorship and state House of Assembly elections earlier scheduled for March 11 to reconfigure the BVAS machines on Wednesday.

However, the APC in its statement said;

While noting its reassurance that data from the presidential and National Assembly elections will be properly backed up on its cloud facilities, we urge INEC to do everything within its power to preserve and protect the integrity of the extracted data from BVAS as it has committed to do before a court.

Further, we enjoin INEC to use the opportunity presented by the election postponement to address any gaps or hitches identified in the presidential election in order to avoid a reoccurrence in the March 18, election.

Even as presidential candidates and their political parties explore and exercise their constitutional liberty to challenge or defend the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly elections, we must remind ourselves of the overriding duty that we bear to eschew conduct and action capable of undermining the peace of our country or imperil the capacity of INEC to conduct the upcoming elections.

Our candidate, now President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emerged as the overwhelming choice of Nigerians in the presidential election which was free, fair and in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC Guidelines for the 2023 General Election.

We are thankful for our renewed presidential mandate, and urge our supporters and indeed all Nigerians to double down on their support for our great party, and its candidates in the upcoming elections.