The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State has called for immediate nullification of the gubernatorial/House of Assembly elections held on Saturday in the state.
The party said the elections were marred with fraud, illegalities and violence.
Addressing a press conference on Monday at the state party Secretariat, Ikot-Ekpene Road Uyo, the APC state Chairman, Mr. Ini Okopido alleged that INEC in the state was biased and was sympathetic to their opponent, the People’s Democratic Party PDP in the state.
Okopido insisted that APC won in the twenty-six (26) out of the thirty-one (31) local government areas of the state adding that the results were manipulated in the collation centres against his party.
He also said the level of vote buying by the PDP, non- use of card readers by the INEC ad-hoc staff and falsification of results were among the reasons the election must be cancelled.
According to him, “The All Progressives Congress hereby vehemently reject the purported results as released by INEC in the state. We call on INEC to recourse to the part of honour to cancel the election results forthwith to avoid any breakdown of law and order.
“The result of the governorship and state house of assembly elections in the state as obtained from our agents across the state clearly shows that the APC won in 26 out of the 31 local government areas of the state.
“We rather insist on the result of the elections from the field and reject the sham and fictitious result as announced by INEC in Akwa Ibom state as it was contrived, manipulated and concocted to suit the unholy alliance between the commission and the PDP.
“INEC in collusion with the PDP committed an electoral coup against the people of Akwa Ibom state by publishing and announcing such spurious results.”
The Chairman who urged APC supporters to remain calm maintained that APC would employ every legitimate means to reclaim their victory in the state.
However, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of INEC in Akwa Ibom state, Mr. Mike Igini speaking with journalists debunked the allegation saying that he was not sympathetic of any political party.
He said, “When we arrived in the state, one year six months. We promised to deliver integrity driven electoral process and that was exactly what we did.
“As a commission, we had no votes to give to any political party and we advised all the politicians to go and canvass for votes. We ensured that the will of the people count. The people had expressed their will through the ballot and a credible election is what restored hope and rekindle confidence.”
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