The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Saturday’s judgment of the Rivers Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that overturned the election of Gov. Nyesom Wike as a deadly blow to impunity.

A statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, said that the only way for elections to have legitimacy was for them to be free, fair and credible.

“What has come across from this judgment is that there is no shortcut to free, fair and credible elections.

“Elections are about the expression of the will of the people, and they must always be free to express themselves irrespective of what some desperate politicians may feel,” it said.

The statement said that politicians, especially those seeking or occupying elective offices, must realise that they could only derive their legitimacy from the people.

“And unless they respect the wishes of the people, they will not go far,’’ it added.

The statement hailed the party’s governorship candidate in Rivers, Mr Dakuku Peterside, for his doggedness and strong conviction in the pursuit of his petition against the election of Wike of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

It, however, urged all APC members and supporters in the state to remain peaceful.