Don’t celebrate yet, Akpabio warns Akwa Ibom Gov after re-election

The All Progressives Congress stalwart and senator representing Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday described Governor Udom Emmanuel’s victory in Saturday’s governorship polls as a “purchased victory which must be reclaimed.”

The Peoples Democratic Party candidate and re-elected governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, was, on Sunday, declared the winner of a total 519,712 votes to defeat his APC candidate, Nsima Ekere who came behind with 171,978 votes.

But speaking with our correspondent on the outcome of the elections in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Akapbio said it was too early for Governor Emmanuel to celebrate his victory, adding that the APC would exploit appropriate legal means to retrieve it.

He claimed that the results collated from the fields were different from the ones declared by the returning officers of the various local governments areas of the state, adding that APC won the elections at the polling units but lost at the INEC offices.

“I was shocked when I saw the figures being brandished on the television.

“I wondered if it they were the same results we got on the field that they were announcing on the television channels. This shows that Nigeria is in trouble.

“I want to state categorically that those claiming victory, or those regarded as victors in the last election in Akwa Ibom State on the 9th of March should regard it as purchased victory. It was money at work. The people’s hopes were dashed.

“So, I want to tell Udom Emmanuel and his Peoples Democratic Party that it is too early to celebrate now. We will use appropriate legal means to reclaim that mandate” Akpabio said.

Akpabio alleged that his local government, which reportedly gave the APC governorship candidate 74,000 votes at the local government collation centres, was reduced to only 60,000 in  INEC office.

He accused INEC of “employing PDP members as collation officers,” stressing that 99% of the collation officers, especially, those sent to his local government area, were card-carrying PDP members.

“My prayer is that this is not what would befall Nigeria; otherwise, democracy is in peril.”

In reaction, Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, described the election as “free, fair and credible.”

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He said, “When we returned to Akwa Ibom one year, six months and 10 days ago, we promised that we were going to deliver integrity-driven electoral process and that all old things must past away

“That is what we promised; that is what we delivered. We provided leadership; the people, the staff of the Commission and the entire electorate of this state. That is what we have done.”