Guinea opposition leader Diallo declares himself winner of Sunday's poll
Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - Guinea's opposition leader Mamadou Cellou Dalein Diallo on Monday declared himself the winner in the first round of the presidential election held on Sunday in the West African country.
A statement by the leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), the main challenger of the incumbent president Alpha Conde, declaring himself winner of the vote came just hours after polls closed, while the compilation of votes was ongoing.
The statement by the UFDG leader was welcomed and celebrated in his stronghold, Labé, Middle Guinea, about 300 km from the capital, and in some neighbourhoods in the suburbs of Conakry where prominent UFDG militants live.
But in a statement on Monday obtained by PANA, the government has denounced it as "an irresponsible act".
The government, citing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), gave the assurance that the details of the votes in areas that are difficult to access have not yet arrived at the Administrative Commission for the Centralisation of Voting (CACV).
The government said it "deeply regrets" the statement of the UFDG candidate proclaiming "victory" in the election and denounced it as "an irresponsible, anti-democratic and anti-republican act".
This, it added, undermines the roles of institutions of the Republic in the electoral process saying its sole purpose is to sow confusion, manipulate public opinion and seriously undermine social peace.
The government said by acting in this way, in flagrant violation of the rules governing the electoral process and despite the warnings of the international community, the UFDG candidate wants to provoke a situation of widespread chaos with dangerous and unpredictable consequences.
It said INEC is the only competent institution to proclaim the provisional results and that any grievances against the process must be brought before the Constitutional Court, which hears and deals with electoral disputes before proclaiming the final results of an election.
The government says it reserves the right to take legal action against Mr. Diallo to hold him accountable for his actions.
Political leaders, civil society actors and diplomats, among others, have told PANA of their surprise and disappointment at Mr. Diallo's action.
The government has reassured the people that without interfering in or relinquishing its neutrality in the electoral process, it will maintain public order.
-0- PANA AC/JSG/BBA/MA 20Oct2020
