The Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obong Paul Ekpo, has taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the claim by the latter that the petition of their gubernatorial candidate is being frustrated by bribe allegedly offered to Mr. Austin Okojie, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom, by the past Governor of the State, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

Obong Ekpo, in a statement issued yesterday in Uyo, described as false, spurious and baseless, the alarmist cry by the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the APC, accusing the former governor of the state, now a senator.

News Express reports that Victor Iyanam, counsel to Mr. Umana Okon Umana, APC Governorship candidate in the last election and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, in a petition dated July 8 accused Okojie of collecting the bribe from Akpabio in order to work against APC’s interest Umana at the election tribunal.

The petition was addressed to the Director General of the Department of State Security (SSS), and the Inspector General of Police.

Obong Ekpo laughed off the APC allegation. He observed that while it was not necessary to join issues with the party, which he said is reputed to thrive on propaganda and blackmail, it was pertinent to set the records straight so that the gullible and unsuspecting public is not misled and misinformed by the APC.

The PDP boss said the bribe story only exists in the imagination of its authors. He challenged the APC to present evidence of how the alleged sum of N2.5 billion was disbursed to INEC officials by the state government, through whom, and by what channel it was transmitted.

Obong Ekpo berated the APC for what he termed its provocative acts of mudslinging, in a desperate bid to arm twist the Election Tribunal and influence its judgment, he said, will not work.

The PDP chairman reiterated his implicit confidence in the Tribunal to protect the overwhelming mandate freely given by Akwa Ibom people to Governor Udom Emmanuel, and charged the APC to allow a matter that was before the tribunal to be sorted out by them, and stop the distractions its false utterances are causing.

Obong Ekpo also disclosed that the PDP was aware that the DSS, was quizzing some Akwa Ibom top INEC officials, noting that acts of intimidation and abuse of power were unnecessary in a democracy.

He, however, called on all PDP supporters and the good people of Akwa Ibom State to remain steadfast and continue to support the PDP administration led by Governor Emmanuel in the state to deliver on its agenda of economic development, job and wealth creation, as well as industrialisation.

In a related development, the counsel to PDP, Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, has revealed that INEC has made available in Abuja, electoral materials used in the conduct of the April 11, 2015 Governorship polls in obedience to the Election Tribunals order and that inspection and photocopy of materials have begun in earnest, wondering why people should peddle false information on a straight forward matter.

Mr Usoro said, rather than engage in media propaganda and needless manipulation of public sentiments, the APC should concentrate on the kernel of her petition without denigrating individuals and institutions.

•Photo shows Senator Akpabio.

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