Youths of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State on Monday evening barricaded the entrance of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, office in protest over purpoted partisanship of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Mike Igini.
The youths called for Igini’s redeployment from Akwa Ibom state, stating undue romance with the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state as reason for the call.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions such as: “Igini must go,’ ‘Igini handed uncollected PVCs to Udom Emmanuel,’ ‘Igini save our state from crisis,” the youths claimed that the REC was working according to the dictates of the PDP-led state government.
According to the Chapter Treasurer of APC in Urueffong Oruko LGA of the state, Emmanuel Nduonofit, “Igini is biased and he is working for PDP. He handed all the uncollected PVCs to Udom to rig the election. It is either they change him or there will be no election in the state.”
Asked whether they were been sponsored to stage the protest, Emmanuel said, “We are not paid but it is for the interest of our party. He (Igini) has been having meetings with PDP candidates in the state. If the time is too short to transfer him, let the federal government advice him for the interest of peace.”
Speaking on behalf of the protesting youth, a foremost youth leader in the state, Mr Stephen Ntokekpo said “the unfolding events in the last couple of days have proven beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Igini is working for the PDP”.
Similarly, the forum of all registered political parties in Akwa Ibom, at a press conference, accused the INEC REC of partisanship.
The Chairman of the forum and chairman of Fresh Party in the state, Kingsley Akaiso told newsmen that the concerned members had cause to call attention to the alleged failure of the INEC leadership in the state to inspire the confidence of all contestants of political parties in the state.
His words, “In the political process in the state, INEC has portrayed unbridled partisanship through the selection of its ad hoc staff, some of whom are drawn from the employees of the Commission, contrary to extant practices and institutional requirements.
“Through connivance with the state government, all the ad hoc staff of the Commission is made up of loyal members and supporters of the PDP.
“In addition, the Commission has acted as though it were part of the Government House in Uyo. In spite of our representations to the head office of the Commission in Abuja, nothing has been done to allay our concern that the INEC office in Akwa Ibom State is not a fair umpire and cannot deliver a free, fair and transparent election because it is partisan and in bed with the ruling PDP government in the state. This anomaly must be looked into.”
In his reaction, the REC described all the allegations as baseless and unfounded, stressing that he had never collected a dime from any political actor in the state.
He vowed to remain focused and unbiased in the discharge of his duties even amidst series of petitions and attacks against his person.
“The main issue that they are talking about has no basis, when I came in newly, PDP accused me of being sent by APC and now APC is accusing me of working for PDP, well I am not discouraged. I am like a cock that crows for everybody.
“You can check my antecedence, I am for every body and I will remain unbiased. So any person is free to protest,” he said.
Meanwhile at a press release, the state Commissioner for Information and strategy, Charles Udoh said the agitation for the removal of the REC by the the opposition APC was as a result of fear of impending defeat at the polls.
“Against this backdrop, it is obvious that the ongoing desperate chants by the APC for the removal of the electoral umpire in Akwa Ibom State is an orchestrated plan to manipulate the electoral process,” he said
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