The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kwara State on Saturday expressed doubt over the ability of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) to conduct free and fair Local Government elections.

This is contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Omu-Aran in the Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

The statement signed by the Spokesman of the APC in Kwara South Senatorial District, Shuaib Olanrewaju, said the commission’s alleged fraudulent act, regarding the Offa rerun election was a good pointer.

It described the announcement of the PDP candidate, Abdulwaheed Olanipekun, as the winner of the rerun election by KWASIEC as an “electoral fraud”.

“We members of APC in Kwara South, in line with all others reject the result of Offa Local Government rerun election, announced by the Chairman of KWSEIC, Mr. Uthman Ajidagba.

“We hereby call on all security agencies to order the returning officer for the election to officially announce the authentic result as collated and signed by all the 12 wards polling agents and security officers.

“We also expressed our strong lack of confidence in the KWASIEC, led by Ajidagba and that he cannot conduct any free and fair election in the state.”

The statement also called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission and the Nigeria Guild of Editors to investigate the role played by Radio Kwara in announcing the result of the election, held on September 31.

The statement commended the people of Offa Local Government Area for their steadfastness.

Mr. Olanipekun was said to have polled 35, 937 as against 20,161 polled by Saheed Popoola of the APC to emerge winner as announced by KWASIEC.

The announcement had attracted condemnation and protests in both Ilorin and Offa by members of APC.

The executive of the council had since resumed work after being sworn-in by Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara at the Government House, Ilorin.

The KWASIEC Spokesman, Nurudeen Dauda, in his reaction said that the commission had all it takes to conduct a free, fair and acceptable election.

“My only advice is for any aggrieved party or person to seek legitimate means of fighting their cases and not through violence means,” he said.

(NAN)