The All Progressives Congress (APC) said it respected the decision of INEC to postpone the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections from March 11 to 18.
Mr. Felix Morka, APC National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the postponement of the election followed the ruling by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on the reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used for the presidential election by INEC.
The party said it noted INEC’s reassurance that data from the Presidential and National Assembly elections will be properly backed up on its cloud facilities.
“We urge INEC to do everything within its power to preserve and protect the integrity of the extracted data from BVAS as it has committed to do before the court,” he said.
He enjoined INEC to use the opportunity presented by the election postponement to address any gaps or hitches identified in the Presidential and National Assembly election of Feb. 25.
This, the APC scribe said, was critical to avoid a reoccurrence of such hitches in the now March 18, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
He said this was necessary as presidential candidates and their political parties explored and exercised their constitutional liberty to challenge or defend the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“We must remind ourselves of the overriding duty that we bear to eschew conducts and actions capable of undermining the peace of our country.
He re-emphasized that the APC candidate, now President-elect, Bola Tinubu, emerged as the overwhelming choice of Nigerians in the presidential election which was free and fair.
According to Morka, the Feb. 25 presidential election was in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines for the 2023 general elections.
“We are thankful for our renewed presidential mandate and urge our supporters and indeed Nigerians to double down on their support for our party, and its candidates in the upcoming governorship and State Assembly elections,” he said.