Election: PDP uncovers plot to burn down INEC office in A’Ibom

…Fingers Sen Akpabio

Isaac Job, Uyo

The Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to burn down INEC office in Ikot Ekpene. Addressing a press conference in Uyo after collation of the 10 local councils in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District where Senator Akpabio lost out, the Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Ini Ememobong, alleged that the plot is hatched by Senator Godswill Akpabio to frustrate the announcement of the collated result for Essien Udim Local Government Area. He stated that after various plans ranging from intimidation and arrests of key PDP members, the use of security personnel to cover and harass the electorate, and allegations against the REC of supporting the PDP failed, among others, they have resorted to burning down the INEC office. He called on security agencies to beef up security at the Ikot Ekpene INEC office and encouraged the commission in the state to remain unbiased in the discharge of its duties. “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. Godswill 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 24 hours, 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 centre. “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 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 than 60,000 votes. The only LGA left is Essien Idim, which INEC is currently working on,” he said. When the Media Aide to Senator Akpabio, Mr. Anietie Ekong, was contacted on phone to comment on the allegations, his calls rang out but he did not pick up.