The All Progressives Congress (APC) has lashed out at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his criticism of the recently concluded local government elections in Rivers State, describing his allegations of irregularities as baseless and nothing more than the rant of a “serial loser.”
The ruling party further expressed gratitude to the people of Rivers State for what it described as their overwhelming support in Saturday’s local government elections.
In a statement issued on Monday by Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary, the ruling party said its victory in 20 out of the 23 chairmanship seats contested in the state reflected the confidence of the electorate in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the APC’s ability to deliver “transformative and people-oriented governance.”
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“We commend our Party leaders, members and supporters for working assiduously for this important victory.
“Our appreciation also goes to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and security agencies for ensuring a peaceful, transparent, and hitch-free election,” the statement read.
Atiku, in a post through his X account, on Sunday, described the Rivers State LG poll and its outcome as “an awful absurdity and a travesty to the very notion of elective democracy.”
He said, “By the shameful and shambolic manner in which the occupation government went ahead to conduct local government elections in Rivers State, it is clear that the ruling APC party is not leaving anyone in doubt that it is prepared to throw caution to the wind to achieve an inordinate political advantage.”
He called on Nigerians, the international community, and partners of the country to pay attention to what he described as a “dangerous curve that the President Bola Tinubu regime is taking our dear country.”
Atiku also appealed to opposition parties in Rivers State to reject the elections.
“I will also call on all opposition parties in Rivers State to reject the local government election on the premise that the occupation government that conducted the exercise is extraneous to our laws, with absolutely no legitimacy to undertake such a crucial and sensitive assignment,” he stated.
Turning its focus on Atiku, the APC rejected his criticism of the polls, describing it as a “tirade” aimed at distracting Nigerians from what it called the former vice president’s “miserable no-show record” in the elections.
“Atiku’s tirade is no more than a smokescreen meant to distract the public from another miserable no-show record of his African Democratic Congress (ADC), and an attempt to stoke tension and strife over the Rivers local government election,” Morka said.
The APC accused the former vice president of consistently attempting to undermine the democratic process, branding him a “forlorn serial presidential contender” whose remarks amount to incitement.
“We trust Rivers people to reject Atiku’s incitement to strife and instability as an unwise counsel,” the party added.
While urging the newly elected local government chairmen and councillors to deliver “meaningful governance outcomes for the common good of all,” the APC maintained that its victory in Rivers was a testament to its growing acceptance in the state and across the country.
