Akpabio, Ekere Reject Akwa Ibom Election Results

Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Nsima Ekere, have opened up on the conduct of the 2019 general election in the state.

The duo in separate testimonies on Tuesday with journalists totally discredited the conduct of the election and the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying it was against the wish of the electorate in the state.

Akpabio alleged that the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in  Akwa Ibom State was a purchased victory and should not be celebrated.

The senator said: “It’s shocking that the world will need to know when I see figures being brandished on television, I always wonder if this is the same result that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mike Igini, procured in Akwa Ibom State, then Nigeria is finished.

“I want to state categorically that those claiming victory in the last election in Akwa Ibom State March 9, are celebrating purchased victory, it was money at work, and the people hope were dashed.

“I’m not surprise this happen so long the umpire in all circumstanceswas not prepared to superintend over justice as far as the election of 2019 was concerned.”

Akpabio stated that the results collated from various polling units across the state were different from the ones declared by the returning officers of the various local government areas of the state, noting that APC won the elections at the polling units but lost at the INEC offices. 

He alleged that the INEC hired PDP members as collation officers, stressing that 99 percent of the collation officers, especially those sent to his local government area, were card-carrying PDP members.

 "My prayer is that this is not what would befall Nigeria otherwise democracy is in perils.

"I don't know why Mike Igini chose to become such a biased umpire. He said he fought for democracy but I believe he is fighting to destroy our democracy. I will leave him to God,” Akapbio declared.

On his part, the APC governorship candidate accused the REC of conniving with his staff and the PDP government to deny APC victory in the state.

Ekere said before now, the APC had called for the redeployment of the state REC but such appeals were rejected by the national chairman of INEC.

According to him, the result released by his party agents showed that APC won at the units, but were denied their victory at the collation centres, promising to explore all necessary means to ensure that the mandate the people of the state gave to the APC is recovered at the appropriate time.