The Young Progressives Party (YPP) says its victory in Saturday’s rerun election in Anambra and Akwa Ibom is a proof of acceptability by Nigerians.
Mr Egbeola Wale-Martins, the YPP National Publicity Secretary, said this when he spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
He said that in spite of the fact that YPP want not in control in Anambra and Akwa Ibom, the electorate demonstrated confidence in it by voting massively for its candidates.
“The victory of YPP’s candidates in the two states is a testament of acceptance of the party by Nigerians and the resilience and unstoppable spirit of the candidates,’’ he said.
Wale-Martins said that the leadership of the party was happy with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for organising free, fair and peaceful election.
“INEC upheld the mandates of the true winners and refused to allow those who failed through the ballot to hijack the process.
“We are happy that as umpire, the commission was able to suppress the culture of using intimidation, violence and vote buying to hijack political power.
“If this path is maintained, it will be obsolete and unattractive in electoral processes for politicians to resort to electoral fraud,’’ he said.
Wale-Martins said that the party was against making Nigeria a one party state as such a move was antithetical to the tenets of democracy.
He also commended party members and supporters nationwide, especially those from the constituencies where rerun and by-election were held.
“We commend INEC for playing by the rules and refusing to be used by electoral fraudsters to manipulate the process and we urged the commission to continue in this direction to strengthen our democracy,’’ he said.
The YPP official urged all winners not to deviate from the principles of the party upon which they were elected, but to remain committed toward building an egalitarian society.
Mr Chinwe Nnabuife won the rerun for Orumba North/ Orumba South Federal Constituency, while Mr Peter Uzokwe won the rerun for Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency.
Mr Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo won the by-election for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, while Mr Moses Essien was declared winner of the by-election for Ibiono Ibom Constituency in Akwa Ibom.(NAN)
