The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has admonished Yiaga Africa, a non-profit organization, not to derail from its stated objectives, or risk going into oblivion.
The party in a statement in Benin, on Wednesday, said the outfit appears to be working in tandem with the defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in its posturing of turning the just concluded off season Edo State Governorship election a ‘do or die affair.’
According to the party, both the PDP and Yiaga Africa, haven been disappointed in their permutations, as part of an ochestrated ‘Plan B,’ have now resorted to trying to make a mockery of the exercise, which recorded no incidence of violence, and adjudged free and fair by both local and international observers, that were on ground to monitor the process and its outcome.
According to Yiaga Africa, launched in 2007, its core mission statement as a civil society organization, is: “To build and support sustainable democracy and development, anchored on the principles of inclusion, accountability and justice, through research, advocacy and capacity development”.
The Edo APC stated that Yiaga Africa has not only lost track, but also veered into active partisanship and sell out to the highest bidder, in outright disregard to their stated mandate.
The statement read: “It is now quite obvious that Yiaga Africa has decided to take sides with the defeated PDP, which will be of no surprise to keen observers of unfolding political events in Edo State.
“They have decided to deviate from being objective monitors of the September 21, Edo Governorship election, right from before, during and after the exercise.
“This is for whatever reason that may be yet unknown to the people of the Edo State, who trooped out on the day of election, to give their votes to the APC and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebolo, thereby rejecting Godwin Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with their candidate, Asuen Ighodalo.
“It is quite clear that the PDP has become the sore loser, but while Yiaga Africa will act in suit is most unfortunate. We therefore call on the leadership of the organization to act responsibly and stick to its mandate, if they are to retain the respect of Nigerians, else they self obliterate.
“It is also needless advising Yiaga Africa, that it risks running itself out of existence, just like several others before it, who chose to thread the path of dishonour.
“It is only quite easy to lose relevance, when a supposed election monitoring body chose to become political and appear to be smarting from false unattainment of electoral projections.”
