By Emeka Samuel, Uyo
The Peoples Democracy Party PDP in Akwa Ibom has raised alarm over an alledged plot by the APC to set ablaze INEC office in Ikot Ekpene Just as the INEC REC insist on upholding his integrity.
The Ikot Ekpene INEC office has become a centre of crisis following the insistence of INEC to subject Obot Akara and Essien Udim results to intensed scrutiny through the card readers before it is released and announced.
The state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini who has been under intensed pressure to announce the election result in favour of Akpabio, has vehemently vowed never to “surrender my integrity because of just one man.”
Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Monday, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Comrade Ini Ememobong alledged that “we are in receipt of impeccable intelligence indicating a plan to attack and burn INEC offices in ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and the headquarters in Uyo .
” This plan we learnt is hatched and sponsored by the out-going senator for ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Sen. Godswil Akpabio who is hell bent on frustrating the announcement of the collated result of Essien Udim local government area and the final result of the Senatorial District.
“Before the elections, Senator Akpabio, Obong Nsima Ekere, Ini Okopido and other APC chieftains undertook the regular submission of frivolous petitions against top PDP members to necessitate their arrest by the police.
“In the last 24hours, Sen. Akpabio has tried different tricks ranging from calling the PDP collation agents and promising them huge financial inducement, offering bribes to Electoral officers, abduction and detention of electoral officials, use of military intervention and many other conceivable means of defeating the will of the people expressed freely cast through the ballot.
“Last night, he held a victory party at his residence in Ukana, Essien Udim, where he declared himself the winner of the elections, against the provision of Section 27(2)(e) of the Electoral Act which provides that the Returning officer shall announce the result and declare the winner at the Senatorial Collation center. It is therefore unlawful and illegal for Senator Akpabio to announce himself as the winner.
“The truth is that collation of results have been done in 9 out of 10 local government areas areas in ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and three out of four of the House of Representatives seats declared by INEC as having been won by the PDP with a wide margin of more that 60,000 votes. The only LGA left is Essien Idim, which INEC is currently working on.” Emomobong explained.
The party said having failed in his initial plot to frame up and arrest certain key members of the PDP to avert his imminent defeat, Akpabio has resorted to engaging the services of AIG Musa Kimo who had permanently relocated to the state, leaving the violent-prone parts of the zone unattended to.
It called in the Inspector General of Police and the entire security apparatuses of government to engender public confidence about their neutrality and show that no one is above the law
PDP also appealled to the security operatives to provide adequate security for all the offices, officers and infrastructure of INEC to prevent agents of the Senator Akpabio from making good their threat of destroying lives and property.
“We appeal to INEC to remain firm, resolute and unbending in the discharge of their duties. Illegitimate requests must never be acceded to .
“Additionally, we call on the Inspector General of police to immediately arrest Senator Godswill Akpabio for conduct likely to breach public peace and violation of section 27(2)(e) of the electoral act. He should be prosecuted immediately so that upon conviction,the provision of Section 123(4) of the electoral act will be activated”. The party advised.
