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Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Ekere, Akpabio, Etiebet blame INEC for APC’s loss in Akwa Ibom

    EVEN with his declaration as governor-elect, Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel should not rejoice, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has said, insisting that the trophy was wrongly awarded to the incumbent

    Three APC leaders in the Southsouth state said the party would do everything legal to reclaim its victory, adding that their party won in 26 local government areas of the state.

    Obong Nsima Ekere (governorship candidate), Senator Godswill Akpabio and Chief Don Etiebet blamed APC’s loss in last Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

    According to them, the INEC chair refused to redeploy the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, from Akwa Ibom, in line with the umpire’s practice since 1999.

    Ekere, at a press briefing in his Ewet Housing Estate residence in Uyo, the state capital, alleged that Igini had from the outset shown through his utterances and actions that he was determined to frustrate the APC from winning elections in the state.

    He said: ‘“Now, interestingly, months before the elections, the APC family in Akwa Ibom State had expressed a lot of reservations about the character of Mr. Mike Igini.

    “We had told the entire country and the world that Mr. Igini had shown the world that he was far from neutral in the way he was preparing for the elections and his utterances amongst his staff during training sessions and the things he said showed clearly that the man had a mindset that he had sworn severally that under his watch, the APC cannot win elections in Akwa Ibom State.

    “All we wanted was for INEC to allow Akwa Ibom people decide for themselves who they wanted. It was not for INEC and the resident electoral commissioner to come and decide for Akwa Ibom people which political party must win and which one must not win under his watch.

    “He is supposed to be a neutral umpire. His (Igini’s) conduct and the things he has done both in the presidential and National Assembly elections and the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections have confirmed our fears.

    “What we find so difficult to understand is why it was difficult for the INEC chairman and other authorities to listen to our pleas to change Mike Igini as the REC in Akwa Ibom.”

    Arguing that Igini had stayed long enough as the REC to be redeployed, the APC candidate said: “From 1999 when elections started again in this country, every election year, the REC and other staff of the INEC who have been resident in a state for a period of time were always moved around.

    “That way, you are sure they will not allow their alliances and their friendships they have developed in the state within that period they have stayed to influence their conduct.

    “Surprisingly, INEC refused to do this. And this is the first time this is happening. They allowed Mr. Igini to frustrate the wishes of Akwa Ibom people. This is most unfortunate.”

    Ekere insisted that his party was robbed of victory at the polls.

    He claimed that his party won in 26 of the 31 local government areas.

    Ekere said: “I want to thank the people of Akwa Ibom State for the love for our party which was expressed through the ballot paper on Saturday.

    “It was clear that from the result collated from the fields, our party, the APC won the election in 26 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 mandate. I urge you all to remain calm”

    Senator Akpabio also blamed the APC’s fate on Igini, saying he found it hard to understand why his Essien Udim Local Government Area, with voting strength of 105,000, was allotted just a bit above 6, 000 votes.

    He said the elections were massively rigged by the PDP in connivance with the INEC leadership in the state.

    Etiebet vowed that the APC will do everything legally permissible to reclaim its victory, insisting that the party won in 26 local government areas.

    He accused INEC of changing the results announced at various polling units which put the APC in a clear lead ahead of the PDP.

    Responding to the allegations  Igini said he came to the state to change the old way of doing things, adding that the election was free and fair, devoid of any bias.

    Igini asked the losers to direct their petitions to the tribunals.

    He said: ”We have conducted the elections, so I don’t want to be joining issues with people. I have heard everything they have said about me.

    ”After the elections, the constitution says results can only be questioned in the form of petitions and in election tribunals that have already been set up and inaugurated.

    ”At any point in time, any person who has issues with the outcome of the elections should go to the tribunal.”

    Igini denied backing any party, and challenged any politician to prove that he has ever had any private meeting with them or collected any form of gratification to rig the elections.

     

     

  • February 23 elections in Akwa Ibom: A reporter’s diary

    Penultimate weekend’s presidential and National Assembly elections have come and gone, but the echoes generated by the contest will continue to reverberate for some time. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, who monitored the polls in Akwa Ibom State, recounts his experience.

    THERE were a lot of brisk vehicular movements in the wee hours of the February 23, 2019, when the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections held nationwide, as motorists tried to beat the restriction order on movement imposed by security forces. In Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, dozens of cars were detained in checkpoints in different parts of the city, as dawn broke. At one of such roadblocks along Oron Road, near Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, security officials were threatening to shoot motorists making efforts to explain their reason for defying the restriction order. Some drivers were even asked to lie flat on the road. One army officer said the vehicles would remain impounded till the end of the day, when the election would have been over.

    The February 23 elections were the first major test for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu. After the February 16 postponement, Nigerians were justifiably skeptical about the sincerity of INEC to deliver credible polls. Coming against the background of the 2015 general elections where former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, put up what was widely regarded as a commendable performance and the questions that trailed the outing of the electoral umpire in recent off-cycle governorship polls, Prof Yakubu must have been under pressure to satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians.

    The election in Akwa Ibom took place under a tense atmosphere. But, residents were enthusiastic to exercise their franchise. As early as 7.00am, voters have started converging at polling units in the capital and elsewhere to cast their votes. In some units, they had to wait patiently for INEC officials to show up. Prior to the election, there were fears that violence may erupt in parts of the state.

    This is because two persons were killed and 13 of the buses hired by INEC to distribute election materials were burnt in Akwa Ibom Northwest zone on the eve of the February 16 when the elections were initially scheduled to hold. The two major parties, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) had been trading accusations.

    There were allegations that thugs and militants had been brought in from neighbouring states to influence the outcome of the election. Indeed, some arrests were made. So, there were fears that this would encourage voter apathy during the election. But, at the end of the day, it did not quite turn out that way; as electorates trooped out in their numbers to exercise their franchise and there was no violence.

    From observations in the areas visited by our reporter, INEC still has a lot of work to do, to make elections free, fair and more transparent. The exercise was marred by logistic challenges, incidents of voter intimidation and violence. For instance, voting was delayed in some parts of Uyo metropolis, because of non-release of election materials to the polling units. After visiting one of such units and discovering a large number of prospective voters waiting patiently, but no INEC ad-hoc staff on ground, the reporter headed for the Ward 6 collation centre, where the materials were supposed to be dispatched to the units.

    At the collation centre, it was discovered that all the materials were on ground, according party agents, they were still being sorted out. Buses hired by INEC to ferry the materials to various points were still parked within the school premises. Dozens of corps members were idling around, waiting for election materials.

    A party agent who spoke to our reporter said ad-hoc staff passed the night at the centre, with the hope of carrying their materials to their duty posts at dawn. But, they were still there as at 9.25am, waiting to receive the materials. The agent said a power generating set was provided to illuminate the centre and facilitate the sorting out of the materials. Nobody could say precisely why the distribution of the materials was delayed.

    Though the election was adjudged to be generally free, fair and devoid of violence, there were signs that it was marred in some instances by incidents of voter intimidation, violence and similar ugly developments. For instance, while the election was ongoing, there were unconfirmed reports that some ad-hoc staff had been kidnapped in some localities and that a lecturer from the University of Uyo, Mr Kufre Etuk, who worked for INEC was beaten up by hoodlums. But The Nation could not independently verify the claims.

    Besides, it appears as if the two major parties usually concede polling units of prominent politicians where the chance of winning is slim to their opponent. For instance, there were no APC agents when this reporter visited the polling unit where Senator Obong Bassey Albert (OBA) voted in Ididep Usuk, Ibiono Ibom Local Government at about 1pm. Similarly, there were no PDP agents when the reporter reached the polling unit of the Senior Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, 10 minutes later.

    Thus, at some polling units, one can sense where the pendulum would swing by the political platform of the party agents that dominate the unit. In such units, it is not uncommon to see party agents of opponents looking the other way, by allowing the dominant party to have a field day.

    As at the time the reporter called at Ita Enang’s Polling Unit 2, Ward 2 in Ididep, Ibiono Ibom, words had started making the rounds among journalists covering the election that there had been confrontations between supporters of the two major parties. Ididep also happens to be the community where the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Dr. Iniobong Essien, an accomplished medical practitioner, comes from.

    On getting to Ididep, there were telltale signs that confirmed that indeed the community had witnessed a confrontation. The road leading to the town was barricaded. When the reporter got to Enang’s polling unit, at about 1.10pm, there was no single voter in sight; even though it was still within the period designated for accreditation and voting.

    The head of the unit, Mr. Joseph Joshua, said voting started at about 9.30am and that 95 out of the 456 registered voters at the unit had done their accreditation and voted. There was no PDP agent around.

    Later, at his country home, Enang confirmed that there was a fight between PDP supporters and that of the APC. He said he was attacked and that his car was vandalised, when a group of alleged PDP thugs swooped on the neighbourhood.

    His words: “We were suddenly attached by PDP thugs and agents, scaring away APC agents, because there were no security personnel around at the time. It was later that security personnel were sent.

    “There have been so much violence; I’m sure you could see the extent of my brutalisation. Right now, if you go round, you will see people moving about shooting guns. In some of these places, you have electoral materials, but no result sheets. But, we are trying to address the situation.

    “You have a situation where people are scared. You will see some other person’s holding Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) they bought from theirs owners, which they are now trying to use, after scaring away the real voters.”

    Reporters that monitored the proceedings at Senator Godswill Akpabio’s polling, which is located within the Independent High School, Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government, had to wait endlessly for the result of the unit. As at the time this reporter left there at about 6.30pm, the result of the unit was yet to be declared by the ad-hoc officials there.   Over the years, younger persons have been keeping away from the polling units; they either remain indoors or stayed within their localities. The last election was not an exception. The turnout was dominated by elderly people and their middle-aged counterparts. Many young persons who are eligible to vote chose to play football on the streets as other Nigerians were at the polling centres to elect their next president and federal lawmakers.

    Some of the young men who spoke to our reporter do not see the need to sacrifice that day to exercise franchise, because they believe that political leaders have always disappointed them over the years. The inner roads in many neighbourhoods were converted to football pitches and boys in the areas had fun, playing the round leather game, while the election was on. One of such young men, Mr. Nathaniel Bassey, said: “What do you expect us to do bros? Irrespective of party affiliation, our leaders do not have the interest of the youth at heart, so there is no point wasting time trying to vote for people who are going there for their personal aggrandizement. Football is what would make a difference for many of us.”

     

  • February 23 elections in Akwa Ibom: A reporter’s diary

    Penultimate weekend’s presidential and National Assembly elections have come and gone, but the echoes generated by the contest will continue to reverberate for some time. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, who monitored the polls in Akwa Ibom State, recounts his experience.

    THERE were a lot of brisk vehicular movements in the wee hours of the February 23, 2019, when the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections held nationwide, as motorists tried to beat the restriction order on movement imposed by security forces. In Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, dozens of cars were detained in checkpoints in different parts of the city, as dawn broke. At one of such roadblocks along Oron Road, near Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, security officials were threatening to shoot motorists making efforts to explain their reason for defying the restriction order. Some drivers were even asked to lie flat on the road. One army officer said the vehicles would remain impounded till the end of the day, when the election would have been over.

    The February 23 elections were the first major test for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu. After the February 16 postponement, Nigerians were justifiably skeptical about the sincerity of INEC to deliver credible polls. Coming against the background of the 2015 general elections where former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, put up what was widely regarded as a commendable performance and the questions that trailed the outing of the electoral umpire in recent off-cycle governorship polls, Prof Yakubu must have been under pressure to satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians.

    The election in Akwa Ibom took place under a tense atmosphere. But, residents were enthusiastic to exercise their franchise. As early as 7.00am, voters have started converging at polling units in the capital and elsewhere to cast their votes. In some units, they had to wait patiently for INEC officials to show up. Prior to the election, there were fears that violence may erupt in parts of the state.

    This is because two persons were killed and 13 of the buses hired by INEC to distribute election materials were burnt in Akwa Ibom Northwest zone on the eve of the February 16 when the elections were initially scheduled to hold. The two major parties, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) had been trading accusations.

    There were allegations that thugs and militants had been brought in from neighbouring states to influence the outcome of the election. Indeed, some arrests were made. So, there were fears that this would encourage voter apathy during the election. But, at the end of the day, it did not quite turn out that way; as electorates trooped out in their numbers to exercise their franchise and there was no violence.

    From observations in the areas visited by our reporter, INEC still has a lot of work to do, to make elections free, fair and more transparent. The exercise was marred by logistic challenges, incidents of voter intimidation and violence. For instance, voting was delayed in some parts of Uyo metropolis, because of non-release of election materials to the polling units. After visiting one of such units and discovering a large number of prospective voters waiting patiently, but no INEC ad-hoc staff on ground, the reporter headed for the Ward 6 collation centre, where the materials were supposed to be dispatched to the units.

    At the collation centre, it was discovered that all the materials were on ground, according party agents, they were still being sorted out. Buses hired by INEC to ferry the materials to various points were still parked within the school premises. Dozens of corps members were idling around, waiting for election materials.

    A party agent who spoke to our reporter said ad-hoc staff passed the night at the centre, with the hope of carrying their materials to their duty posts at dawn. But, they were still there as at 9.25am, waiting to receive the materials. The agent said a power generating set was provided to illuminate the centre and facilitate the sorting out of the materials. Nobody could say precisely why the distribution of the materials was delayed.

    Though the election was adjudged to be generally free, fair and devoid of violence, there were signs that it was marred in some instances by incidents of voter intimidation, violence and similar ugly developments. For instance, while the election was ongoing, there were unconfirmed reports that some ad-hoc staff had been kidnapped in some localities and that a lecturer from the University of Uyo, Mr Kufre Etuk, who worked for INEC was beaten up by hoodlums. But The Nation could not independently verify the claims.

    Besides, it appears as if the two major parties usually concede polling units of prominent politicians where the chance of winning is slim to their opponent. For instance, there were no APC agents when this reporter visited the polling unit where Senator Obong Bassey Albert (OBA) voted in Ididep Usuk, Ibiono Ibom Local Government at about 1pm. Similarly, there were no PDP agents when the reporter reached the polling unit of the Senior Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, 10 minutes later.

    Thus, at some polling units, one can sense where the pendulum would swing by the political platform of the party agents that dominate the unit. In such units, it is not uncommon to see party agents of opponents looking the other way, by allowing the dominant party to have a field day.

    As at the time the reporter called at Ita Enang’s Polling Unit 2, Ward 2 in Ididep, Ibiono Ibom, words had started making the rounds among journalists covering the election that there had been confrontations between supporters of the two major parties. Ididep also happens to be the community where the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Dr. Iniobong Essien, an accomplished medical practitioner, comes from.

    On getting to Ididep, there were telltale signs that confirmed that indeed the community had witnessed a confrontation. The road leading to the town was barricaded. When the reporter got to Enang’s polling unit, at about 1.10pm, there was no single voter in sight; even though it was still within the period designated for accreditation and voting.

    The head of the unit, Mr. Joseph Joshua, said voting started at about 9.30am and that 95 out of the 456 registered voters at the unit had done their accreditation and voted. There was no PDP agent around.

    Later, at his country home, Enang confirmed that there was a fight between PDP supporters and that of the APC. He said he was attacked and that his car was vandalised, when a group of alleged PDP thugs swooped on the neighbourhood.

    His words: “We were suddenly attached by PDP thugs and agents, scaring away APC agents, because there were no security personnel around at the time. It was later that security personnel were sent.

    “There have been so much violence; I’m sure you could see the extent of my brutalisation. Right now, if you go round, you will see people moving about shooting guns. In some of these places, you have electoral materials, but no result sheets. But, we are trying to address the situation.

    “You have a situation where people are scared. You will see some other person’s holding Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) they bought from theirs owners, which they are now trying to use, after scaring away the real voters.”

    Reporters that monitored the proceedings at Senator Godswill Akpabio’s polling, which is located within the Independent High School, Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government, had to wait endlessly for the result of the unit. As at the time this reporter left there at about 6.30pm, the result of the unit was yet to be declared by the ad-hoc officials there.   Over the years, younger persons have been keeping away from the polling units; they either remain indoors or stayed within their localities. The last election was not an exception. The turnout was dominated by elderly people and their middle-aged counterparts. Many young persons who are eligible to vote chose to play football on the streets as other Nigerians were at the polling centres to elect their next president and federal lawmakers.

    Some of the young men who spoke to our reporter do not see the need to sacrifice that day to exercise franchise, because they believe that political leaders have always disappointed them over the years. The inner roads in many neighbourhoods were converted to football pitches and boys in the areas had fun, playing the round leather game, while the election was on. One of such young men, Mr. Nathaniel Bassey, said: “What do you expect us to do bros? Irrespective of party affiliation, our leaders do not have the interest of the youth at heart, so there is no point wasting time trying to vote for people who are going there for their personal aggrandizement. Football is what would make a difference for many of us.”

  • Elkana takes over as new Lagos Police PRO

    The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu, has appointed DSP Bala Elkana as the new Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Elkana took over from CSP Chike Oti.

    Elkana was enlisted into the Nigeria Police in 2003, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB), Master’s Degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution as well as Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA).

    READ ALSO: Drama as Acting IGP stops Lagos CP hand over

    The spokesman had served in different commands and held various positions, including Operations Officer, Divisional Crime Officer, Divisional Police Officer and Community Policing Officer.

    He was at various times police public relations officer in Niger and Akwa Ibom.

    He is a Fellow of Corporate Institute of Administration, an active member of International Association of Chiefs of Police and a member of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

    Until his recent posting, he was an Investigator in the Inspector General of Police (I-G) Monitoring Unit.

    NAN

     

  • PDP clears Akpabio’s senatorial district

    It was another orgy of defeat for the senator representing Akwa Ibom Northeast senatorial district, Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the 10 council areas in the zone.

    Akpabio, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) August last year, was believed to be the magic wand to deliver Akwa Ibom to the ruling party at the centre.

    But the former governor failed to secure a return to the Senate as he lost with a wide margin to Chris Ekpenyong of the PDP in the February 23 national assembly elections.

    Results of 9 out of 10 local government areas in Akwa Ibom Northeast senatorial announced so far indicate that the PDP has taken the zone.

    The result for Essien Udim, which is Akpabio’s local government area, is yet to be announced as at the time of filing this report.

    The delay in submission of results from Akpabio’s local government area, our correspondent learnt, was due to reported cases of violence, harassment and manhandling of INEC officials and other electoral officers in the Saturday’s polls.

    INEC has so far announced results of 30 out of the 31 local government areas in the States.

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of the PDP has won landslide in the 30 out of the 31 local government areas announced so far.

    Results the 30 local government areas so far presented indicated that the PDP has scored 518,003 votes while APC has polled 165,336.

    There is anxiety in the air as INEC officials have taken a 30- minute break to wait for results from Essien Udim.

    The INEC resident electoral commissioner, Mike Igini, is yet to announce the final results of the governorship election due to the delay in the submission of Essien Udim results.

    APC agent for the governorship election, Archbishop Samuel Akpan has rejected the result as presented by collation officers from the 30 LGAs.

    Akpan alleged that PDP rigged elections in most of the wards and units across the state, adding that elections did not even hold in some places.

    The National legal adviser of the PDP, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem said the results declared so far indicated the wishes of Akwa Ibom people.

     

     

     

     

  • A’Ibom: Ekere optimistic of victory

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, Obong Nsima Ekere, has said he is optimistic of defeating his opponent, Governor Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ekere, who cast his vote at about 10.49am at unit 004 ward 6, Ikot Oborenyin, Edemaya, Ikot Abasi LGA, hailed the peaceful conduct of the exercise in his polling unit.

    He was accompanied by his wife, Ese, who also voted. According to him, the governorship/assembly elections were more orderly and peaceful in the state than the presidential/national assembly elections.

    He, however, condemned pockets of violence in some areas in the state allegedly perpetrated by the PDP with assistance from hired hoodlums. The APC governorship candidate mentioned Ibiono Ibom local government area as one of the flashpoints of violence.

    Ekere revealed that he has already contacted security agencies on the threat to the exercise by agents of the PDP.

  • PDP decries killings, violence, militarisation of elections

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the heavy militarisation, violence and killing of innocent Nigerians during Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections across many states of the federation.

    A statement on Saturday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan blamed the development on what the opposition party described as the desperation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections.

    “The world watched with utter horror as soldiers under the command of the Buhari Presidency, hound, arrest, shoot, terrorise opposition figures and provide cover for APC thugs to unleash violence, kill opposition members, cart away electoral materials and disrupt polls in PDP strongholds, all in the bid to forcefully foist the APC on Nigerians,” the statement said.

    The party further bemoaned the resort to bloodletting, violence and alleged official high handedness by the APC in the electoral process, which it said, has further confirmed this administration has no regard for the lives of Nigerians and lawful processes, but only interested in seizing power by all means.

    The PDP noted that never in the history of the nation had a general election recorded such bloodletting, violence and manipulations as triggered in the 2019 elections.

    Lamenting further, the PDP said: “In Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Kogi, Benue, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, among others, soldiers brazenly aided APC thugs to unbridle violence, hijack electoral processes and write fictitious results for APC candidates.

    “In Rivers state, soldiers invaded INEC office in Bori, beat up and chased away PDP agents and assisted the APC in ballot stuffing and writing of results.

    “The scenario was the same in Akwa-Ibom where security agents provided cover for APC thugs in their bid to hijack the electoral process.

    “In Imo state, APC thugs, accompanied by security agents disrupted polls in PDP strongholds and reportedly killed a PDP agents in Umudo/Umuwala area of Owerri.

    “In Ebonyi state, APC thugs aided by security agents, burnt down INEC facility in the state, seeing that their party did not have any foothold in the state.

    “In Ajaokuta, Kabba/Bunu, Olamaboro, Ijumu and several other local governments in Kogi state, APC thugs, assisted by soldiers invaded polling units and carted away ballot materials, a development which sparked off restiveness in some areas and resulted in mass destruction of property in the area”.

    The party regretted that in many other states, the APC, in connivance with INEC, orchestrated the deliberate diversion of electoral materials meant for certain areas to unknown destinations, resulting in the frustration of electoral processes in the affected areas.

    “We know that the APC plot to derail our hard- earned democracy and impose a fascist regime on our nation but we are resolute in standing with Nigerians and all lovers of democracy to ensure that nobody, no matter how vicious, is allowed to vanquish our democracy.

    “In all, our party stands with Nigerians in their resilience at this defining moment in our political history.

    “The PDP commends the courage of Nigerians in standing firm in defence of democracy, despite the machinations of the APC,” the party added.

  • PDP will record landslide victory in A’Ibom – Senator elect

    The Senator-elect for Eket senatorial district in Akwa Ibom, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi, , has expressed hope that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will win the Governorship/Assembly elections in the state.

    Eyankenyi stated this during the counting of the votes of Oron ward 9 unit 01 in Oron  Local Government Area of the state.

    She said PDP was like a religion in the state and the massive response of people had spoken volumes.

    “Considering the level of turn out of PDP voters in the state, victory of all the PDP candidates is sacrosanct.

    “Without mincing words, Oron is PDP and by the time the collation is done, PDP will win.

    Read also: Kaduna PDP guber candidate wins polling unit

    “PDP is on ground here and today’s elections will prove to people that Oron is PDP. We are confident of victory for all our candidates especially Gov. Udom Emmanuel,” she said.

    She decried the cases of violence recorded around the area as some suspected thugs attempted to cart away electoral materials in the area.

    She commended the security operatives on ground who apprehended them and restored normalcy.

    She also lauded INEC for the massive logistics improvement in today’s Governorship and State Assembly elections compared to the Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted on Feb. 23, in the state. (NAN)

  • Eight injured as APC/ PDP clash in A/Ibom

    Eight persons have been reportedly injured in a clash between supporters of the APC and PDP in Nsit Atail local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

    The incident occurred at the Ward 9 unit 007.

    It was gathered that the injured persons who were  of the APC camp, were macheted  during a battle with the PDP supporters and have been taken to the Itu Mbang General Hospital.

    A chieftain of APC  from the area, Dr. Edem who spoke with some journalists at his residence claimed that PDP armed thugs in connivance with security personnel barred APC supporters from coming around the polling units to cast their votes.

    He fingered the house member of Nsit Atai, Hon.Mark Essiet of instigating  violence in the area and expressed pessimism that one of the injured persons hospitalised at the Itu Mbang Hospital may never survive the attack.

    His words,  “The PDP thugs did not allow my people to vote. The PDP House member Mark Essiet organised thugs to matchete and intimidate APC supporters.”

  • Tension as hoodlums set ablaze INEC office in Akwa Ibom

    Suspected hoodlums on Thursday night set fire to an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Akwa Ibom State ahead of today’s governorship and state assembly elections.

    Burnt was the INEC office  in Ibesikpo Asuntan local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Some electoral materials, including card readers, were destroyed in the incident.

    But the  ballot papers are intact,according to the  Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini.

    He said: “In the wee hours this morning, I got a call that one of the areas offices had been gutted by fire, or rather, fire was ongoing there, So we had to call the fire service and the DPO around that area.

    “So they all moved in there, and responded, and they were able to evacuate the entire ballot papers that had been delivered to the local government intact. But because the storeroom behind the building is very close to the fence, obviously we saw some footprints because of the rain yesterday , so it was very clear where they came in through to do the sabotage.

    “So, what were destroyed there were just card readers, the registered voters list and ballot boxes. So that is what happened. But the good news is because the entire ballot papers are intact, so what we are trying to do is basically trying to mop up our card readers as I speak to you, from the entire polling unit. You know, we have already recovered from our reserves, we have already got that.

    “So what we are contending with, which is not a problem really, is the voting point, and within the neighbouring state, even Abuja has called to provide some of the card readers. We have taken care of that.

    “Then the entire register that has been burnt, we have reproduced the register 30 minutes ago. They are ready. Beyond that, we are good to go. There is just one local government area out of 31 local government areas.

    “So we are good to go, the configuration of the card reader is currently ongoing, and I am very sure that before 5:00, we are done.”

    He hailed residents who raced to the scene to help put out the fire.Igini said they did a good job

    His words:”In fact, I must commend the first responders for the good job because that would have been an issue, but I can confirm to Nigerians and Akwa Ibomites that all the ballot papers are intact.

    The State  Police Command  said it was investigating the incident.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Odiko MacDon said:”The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Kaoje, is aware of the incident and has detailed senior police operatives to investigate the incident.

    “We are investigating to ascertain whether it is a clear case of arson, and when the investigations are completed, we will let the people know .”

    He said the findings would be made public while anyone  found culpable will be made to face the law no matter how highly placed.

    The command spokesman said security had been beefed up around all INEC offices

    Meanwhile, Mr Igini yesterday said that the burning of its Local Government Area Office in the state would not stop Saturday’s polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hoodlums set fire to the INEC office in Ibesikpo/Asutan local government area of Akwa Ibom.

    Reacting to the incident, Igini said that the  heinous act would not deter the commission from carrying out its duties, as most of the sensitive materials for the conduct of the elections were still intact.

    The REC, who went on the spot assessment of the incident, said: “there is no going back on the March 9 elections in Akwa Ibom.

    “Election will hold as scheduled, no matter the plot.”

    He revealed that some card readers, electricity generators, computers and other office equipment were burnt.

    Narrating how the incident occurred, INEC Director of Public Affairs in the state, Mr Don Etukudoh, said the fire started at about 3:00 a.m on Friday.

    According to him, an explosive device was thrown into the building which ripped the roof open and substantial damage done to the wall with several card readers burnt.

    “From our findings, the place was attacked with explosives because we noticed huge damage done to the walls and the roof completely shattered.

    “We have been able to order several cards readers from the neighbouring states and we are presently configuring them in readiness for the elections,”  he said.

    The Electoral Officer (EO) for Ibesikpo/Asutan, Mr Victor Inyang, said that the polls would go on as planned because no ballot paper was destroyed by the fire.

    “They thought the election materials were kept in the store,” he added.

    The incident, he reiterated, would not deter the conduct of the polls in all the 177 polling units in Ibesikpo Asutan as other sensitive and non-sensitive materials other than the card readers were not affected by the inferno.

    The fire was extinguished by men of the state fire service.