Election: CSOs plan to resist moves to deploy A’Ibom REC

Isaac Job, Uyo

Few days to 2019 general election, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Akwa Ibom have vowed to resist any attempt to re- deploy the state Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC), Mr Mike Igini to any other part of the country believing that he was capable of conducting credible poll in the state. Addressing a press conference in Uyo yesterday under the auspices of Guild of Community Development Advocates, an umbrella of Akwa Ibom State Non Governmental Organizations Forum, the Chairman, Mr. Harry Udoh extolled the virtues of Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini and acknowledged his capacity to conduct credible poll in the state. Mr. Udoh recalled that previous elections in the state were characterized by irregularities such as massive rigging, ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, ballot box snatching and other violence leading to fatalities. “We have had situations where winners were already known before elections actually took place. There were even instances where election materials including result sheets were handed over to political party representatives . This deliberate disenfranchisement of the electorates only result in bad governance as beneficiaries of such nebulous victories were never accountable to the people”. He said the deployment of the present INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini to the state was the best thing to happen to Akwa Ibom in recent time as he (Igini) has integrity to reverse the old order and bring sanity to electoral process in state. Udoh explained that election cannot be rigged anywhere without the conspiracy with electoral umpire but assured that with personal integrity of the Resident Commissioner the tide would change in Akwa Ibom. “We have repeatedly engaged with him to ensure free, fair, credible and acceptable election in the state. We are certain that today, no one is in doubt of his readiness and resolve to conduct election that will guarantee that the will and intent of the voting masses count”. He said the civil society in Akwa Ibom was shocked to hear the rumours that Mr Igini was transferred out of the state but expressed happiness when the rumour was debunked yesterday. Mr. Udoh warned politicians to refrain from making incendiary statements capable of heating up the polity “Election is a time when citizens come together to select their leaders. If seeking elective office is about service, why should the process to elect those who would serve the people be war” he queried. He also charged security agents to be proactive in ensuring that private armies alleged to have been raised by politicians are nipped in the bud to avoid harassment of voters.