Isaac Job, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Government has described all the allegations against the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) by the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole and former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio as baseless.
In a statement issued yesterday in Uyo, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh said the allegations were part of “an orchestrated script of the APC to actualise their vaunted plans of taking over power in the state through violent and sinister plots.”
Udoh recalled several instances where the former Senate Minority Leader had boasted how he would capture Akwa Ibom within three hours on Election Day
“His supporters have also repeatedly chanted that elections results will be written and announced without recourse to the will of the people at the polling centres using federal might.”
“A combination of these raises a lot of dust over the intent of the seemingly persistent and overt interest of Oshiomhole in the affairs of Akwa Ibom State to the extent of canvassing for the replacement of the electoral umpire.
“It paints a graphic picture of a man who is pulling the puppet strings for the former Senate Minority Leader.
“It is worrisome that these two supposedly respectable former Governors; who are expected to be role models to the younger generation, have taken the art of unguarded utterances and reckless actions to a new realm with impunity.
“Against this backdrop, it is obvious that the ongoing desperate chant by the APC for the removal of the electoral umpire in Akwa Ibom State is an orchestrated plan to manipulate the electoral process.
“We therefore draw the attention of t
he International Community, Human Rights Organizations, Foreign Missions in Nigeria, Law Enforcement Agencies, and the general public to the nefarious plots being hatched against the government and people of Akwa Ibom State.
“It is on records that at several instances the APC in Akwa Ibom State have displayed flagrant acts of impunity that alludes to their desperate desire to actualize their hideous script.
“At a rally in Ikot Ekpene, their Governorship candidate; the former Managing Director,
of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) proudly received and flaunted gifts of guns, daggers and machetes from his party chieftains who admonished him to be ruthless in utilizing those instruments of assaults.
“This was seen on National TV live broadcast and streamed live on several social media platforms.
“We are all living witnesses to the incessant threats by the former Senate Minority Leader to visit mayhem on the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State as part of his plot to wrestle power at all cost,” the statement said.
Udoh further urged the people to remain law abiding and civil but never to compromise their legitimate rights addition that the state government remains firmly committed to the observances and protection of the rule of law in Nigeria with utmost integrity.
“We must not allow the peace, safety and security we have enjoyed as a state since May 29, 2015 to be compromised by a few self seeking individuals who lead a pack of misguided elements, the statement stated.
It would be recalled that the APC leadership had accused Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner of unholy alliance with People Democratic Party with allegation of recruiting Ad hoc staff in their favour.
