Festus Keyamo: Opposition Parties Must Conduct Themselves With Decorum and Not Overheat Polity

The Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo in a statement issued on Sunday, said the attention of the party has been drawn to some incendiary comments made by spokespersons of the opposition parties, notably the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), regarding the yet-to-be-announced results of the elections that held on Saturday.

With elections still being held in some locations today,  Keyamo said the parties have “threatened fire and brimstone if their own version of some concocted results are not announced” in a bid to be the judge, jury and executioner in the elections.

He said in order to rile up their supporters against the country, they play up some isolated incidents of violence in APC strongholds, whereas there “tons of videos of massive electoral malpractices like violence against non-LP supporters, forcing and guiding women and children to thumb-print ballot papers for LP and massive thumb-printing of ballot papers by both PDP and LP supporters in some parts of the country.”

In addition, he added that, one of the spokespersons of the PDP complained about a certain headline in a newspaper about early results, yet in condemning the newspaper, he also makes unfounded claims about the yet-to-be released results. 

Keyamo expressed further that on its part, the APC has decided to be calm to await the official announcement of the results and to pursue any grievances (if any) in a lawful manner. 

He however emphasised that his party will not sit back and allow unguided comments to gain grounds in order to foist a particular narrative on citizens and the international community.

He went further to remind Nigerians that all parties signed the Peace Accord twice before the eyes of the world. “Now is the time to abide by the terms of that accord and show love for country over and above personal ambitions,” he admonished.

“We have all campaigned hard and strong. The Nigerian people have listened to all of us and made their decisions. Now is the time to hear the voices of Nigerians as the results are released and not our own voices. 

“The body officially designated to reflect the voices of Nigerians is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). No Party can bully them by threats to do its own bidding. Neither will the APC be cowed into silence by this disgusting antics of the opposition parties,” he said.

Keyamo called on international observers and friends of Nigeria not to be distracted, but to focus on the process as it unfolds.

By Mosunmola Ogi-olu

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