The People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) in Akwa Ibom has called on security agencies to arrest the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere and Senator Godswill Akpabio over alleged electoral offences.

The state chapter of the PDP alleged that the duo of Ekere and Akpabio committed the offences during the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in held last Saturday in the state.

Spokesperson of the PDP in the state, Comrade, Ini Ememobong, made the call Tuesday during a briefing which was held at the party Secretariat, located along Four Lane, Uyo

He said; “We were shocked by the press statement issued by the State Chairman of the broom wielding party, Ini Okopido and the subsequent press conference hosted by the duo of Obong Nsima Ekere and Godswill Akpabio alleging that they won in 26 local government areas of the state.

“This is surely the best example of living in fool’s paradise.

“We must state that the APC lost in all the local government areas including Essien Udim and Ikot Abasi local Government areas.

“In Essien Udim, materials in Ekpeyong ward were hijacked by APC agents at the voting units in independence high school, thugs and policemen sympathetic to Senator Akpabio mounted the gates and prevented PDP supporters from gaining access to the venue.

“The thugs further unleashed physical attack on journalists and observers, Demola, the TVC correspondent who was there to cover the elections was severely beaten up and chased away

“In Ukana East, the Personal Assistant to Senator Akpabio, Emmanuel Inyangetoh accompanied by over 49 police officers and 60 thugs, went unit to unit packing electoral materials which were taken to independence high school, where thumb printing was recklessly done.

“As if that was not enough, the INEC office in the LGA was kept under siege by Chief Godswill Akpabio, who physically assaulted the Electoral Officer and threatened the collation officer to do his bidding.

“He filled the result sheets with his hand and forced the presiding officers to sign. These facts are alive and at the tribunal, we will avail the court.

“The entire world noted the delay with which it took for Essien Udim to collate and transmit results, all because of Senator Akpabio’s unwholesome interference.

In Ikot Abasi local Government Area, APC thugs were on rampage carting away electoral materials and personnel and taking them to Ekere’s residence, where thumb printing was done.

“Even in Nsima Ekere’s Unit, pictorial evidence abounds to show armed soldiers arranging the voting queue to ensure that PDP supporters did not vote.

“In units 2, 6 and other units in ward 7 thugs led by Ernest Ntuk hijacked ballot boxes and electoral personnel, delivering them at the residence of Ekere.

“We therefore call for the arrest of Godswill Akpabio and Nsima Ekere for the numerous electoral and criminal offenses committed by them in the course of these elections.

“The rule of law makes all men equal before the law,” he said.

The APC governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere while speaking on the matter insisted that his party was robbed of victory at the polls.

He claimed that his party won in 24 out 31 local government of the state but given to PDP in connivance with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini.

“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 24 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”

Responding to the allegations of connivance, INEC REC, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mike Igini, said he came to Akwa State to change the past way of doing things adding the election was free and fair devoid of any bias.

•Sourced from The Nation report

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