The Akwa Ibom chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state has started doctoring election materials.
The party, which claimed it has concrete evidence stated that it is in custody of a text message sent by the INEC’s state administrative secretary, one Mr. Patta, summoning staff of the commission to duty on Sunday to ‘work’ on election materials.
A statement by the State Publicity Secretary of APC, Nkereuwem Enyonekere, alleged: “A text message sent to some staff this Sunday morning by the Secretary Admin, Mr. Patta, says: ‘Good morning Sir. Please kindly come to the office now as some people are expected to work on election materials. Thanks, Secretary Admin.”
The party alleged the INEC Resident National Electoral Commission (REC), Mike Igini, is tampering with the governorship/State House of Assembly election materials of March 9, 2019 to frustrate the petition filed by its governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere.
The APC recalled it had months leading up to the elections joined voices with notable Akwa Ibom people and had written to the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, requesting the redeployment of Igini.
According to the party, the REC was a deeply compromised electoral officer, who through his actions and statements gave him away as being sympathetic and partial to Governor Udom Emmanuel, and the PDP.
“The bias of Igini in favour of the PDP showed through his conduct of the election as evidenced in the collusion and connivance of INEC staff and ad hoc staff with the PDP.”
Responding to the allegation, Igini denied authorising the doctoring of election materials, saying all materials used in the conduct of the March 9 elections are safe.
Igini, who spoke through the state Publicity Officer of INEC, Don Etukudoh, said all political parties are free to inspect election materials to confirm if they have been destroyed or doctored.
“The APC in the state has been consistent in their accusations against the commission so we are not surprised.
“The commission in the state under Mr. Igini has a lot of integrity and would not succumb to blackmail,” he said.
