Joe Effiong, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has described the claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the the party won in 26, of the 31 local government areas in the governorship election and House of Assembly elections as a blatant lie by losers.
Addressing the media in Uyo, yesterday, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Ini Emenobong, said the party was “shocked yesterday by the statement issued by the state Chairman of the broom-wielding party, Ini Okopido and the subsequent press conference hosted by the duo of Obong Nsima Ekere and Godswill Akpabio, where they alleged that the APC won in 26 local government areas of the state.
“This is surely the best example of living in fool’s paradise. We must state that the APC lost in all the local government areas; including Essien Udim and Ikot Abasi local government areas,” the party said.”
Giving a rundown of alleged nefarious activities of the APC on election day, the PDP said: “In Essien Udim, materials in Ekpeyong Ward were hijacked by APC agents. At the voting units in Independence High School, thugs and policemen sympathetic to senator Akpabio mounted the gates and prevented PDP supporters from gaining access to the venue
“The thugs further unleashed physical attack on journalists and observers, Demola, the TVC correspondent who was there to cover the elections was severely beaten up and chased away,
“In Ukana East, the pPersonal Assistant to senator Akpabio, Emmanuel Inyangetoh, accompanied by over 49 police officers and 60 thugs, went unit to unit packing electoral materials which were taken to independence high school,where thumb printing was recklessly done. As if that was not enough, the INEC office in the LGA was kept under siege by Chief Godswill Akpabio, who physically assaulted the Electoral Officer and threatened the collation officer to do his bidding.
“He filled the result sheets with his hand and forced the presiding officers to sign. These facts are alive and at the Tribunal, we will avail the court.
“The entire world noted the delay with which it took for Essien Udim to collate and transmit results, all because of senator Akpabio’s unwholesome interference.
“In Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, APC thugs were on rampage, carting away electoral materials and personnel and taking them to Ekere’s residence, where thumb printing was done.
“Even in Nsima Ekere’s unit, pictorial evidence abound to show armed soldiers arranging the voting queue to ensure that PDP supporters did not vote.
“In units 2, 6 and other units in Ward 7, thugs, led by Ernest Ntuk, hijacked ballot boxes and electoral personnel, delivering them at the residence of Ekere.
“We, therefore, call for the arrest of Godswill Akpabio and Nsima Ekere for the numerous electoral and criminal offenses committed by them in the course of these elections .
“ The rule of law makes all men equal before the law” the PDP said.
Regardless, the APC governorship candidate in the state, Obong Nsima Ekere, who spoke on the matter, insisted that his party was robbed of victory at the polls.
He claimed that his party won in 26, out of the 31 local government areas of the state but were given to the PDP; in connivance with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini.
“ I want to thank the people of Akwa Ibom State for the love for our party which was expressed through the the ballot paper last Saturday.
“It was clear that from the result collated from the fields, our party, the APC won the election in 24, out 31 local government Areas of the state. But, we were denied of that victory in the connivance between the PDP and INEC
“We have evidence of this and we will use appropriate legal means to reclaim the the mandate. I urge you all to remain calm,” Ekere said.