The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of attempting to deflect from the poor performance of his party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the recent Rivers State local government elections.
In a statement released on Monday, APC’s National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka described Atiku’s comments on the polls as a “smokescreen” to hide the ADC’s “miserable no-show record.”
The APC, which won 20 of the 23 chairmanship seats in the Saturday election, said its victory was a testament to the growing public confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s administration and its Renewed Hope agenda.
“We commend our party leaders, members, and supporters for working assiduously for this important victory,” Morka said. He also thanked the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and security agencies for ensuring a peaceful and transparent exercise.
The ruling party refuted Atiku’s claims of electoral malpractice, calling them an effort to “distract the public” and “stoke tension and strife over the Rivers local government election.”
The APC urged Rivers residents to disregard Atiku’s criticism, labeling it the “unwise counsel of a forlorn serial presidential contender.”
According to the party, the election results show that the Rivers electorate “rejected incitement to instability” and voted in support of unity and progress.
“We reiterate our profound gratitude to the electorate in Rivers State, and we urge the newly elected chairpersons to deliver meaningful governance outcomes for the common good of all,” Morka added.
