…As APC rejects result, wins in Akpabio’s LG,
By Myke Uzendu
The Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) has announced that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 30 out of the 31 local government areas in the state in an election that was held last Saturday.
The Chairman of AKISIEC, Aniedi Ikoiwak, who made the announcement at the commission’s office on Udo Udoma Avenue said that the The All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Essien Udim, the local government area of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio while the PDP cleared the remaining 30 local councils.
Meanwhile, the APC has rejected the election results, claiming that the process was marred by widespread rigging, violence, and theft of materials by the PDP.
In a press release signed by the state publicity secretary of APC, OtoAbasi Udo, the party said that AKISIEC compromised the integrity and credibility of the election in favour of the PDP.
The press release reads in parts: “Yesterday, 5 October 2024, Local Government Elections to usher in new elected executive chairmen and councilors were conducted by AKISIEC (Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission), the tenure of the exiting chairmen and councillors having since come to an end by effluxion of time.
“AKISIEC just like any other SIEC in Nigeria is controlled and managed by the State Government. To that extent, there is a perceived and real influence of the electoral umpire by the State Government.
“And to that extent, the obvious result would be tilted in favour of the ruling party in the State. Therefore, what we saw and experienced yesterday was a manifestation of such influence beginning with acute shortages of election materials which disenfranchised quite a number of accredited voters, and actions of financial inducements on voters by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State.
“In spite of the above and more, the teeming supporters of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress, and APC in the State, all came out to support our candidates on the ballot.”
