15th April, 2011
Four opposition political parties in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria, have threatened to boycott the presidential, governorship and House of Assembly elections if the result of last Saturday’s National Assembly election in the state is not cancelled by INEC.
The parties, Action Congress Of Nigeria, ACN, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, and Labour Party, LP, in a joint press statement said they will not participate in the remaining elections unless the NASS election which they claimed was rigged by PDP, is cancelled by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
According to the statement, the four parties said it will be wrong for them to further participate in any of the forthcoming elections in the state when allegations of rigging by PDP in connivance with top INEC officials in the last election have not addressed.
The parties called for the immediate redeployment of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mrs. Mariah Owi and the Director of Operations, Dr. Omang Ntui, saying they have compromised their positions by executing the preconceived agenda of PDP along with the state commissioner of police, Mr. Felix Uyana.
Citing instances of manipulation, intimidation, diversion of ballot papers and shortage of election materials, the four parties noted that in most parts of the state PDP stalwarts were seen campaigning and sharing money to voters on election day.
Part of the statement reads: “In Ikot Okpodong, Ikot Enin, Ikot Oror and Ikot Obio Ndoho, armed policemen hijacked electoral materials and disappeared to unknown destinations where thumb printing was carried out.
“At Ata Essien Unit, the first son of Ikot Abasi paramount ruler was sharing money to people, forcing and intimidating the defiant ones with armed policemen.
“In Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, voters were forced to vote for PDP and if anyone refused, he or she was threatened with death and as a result, everyone voted for PDP.
“The state government deployed fake NYSC members, bribed accredited corps members and also compromised returning officers so that in almost all the units in the state, unused ballot papers were not returned but were given to PDP members who used palm kernel and bitter kola nuts to print in place of thumbs.
“Two personal assistants to the governor in Ini Local Government hijacked election materials as army officers and policemen escorted them while shooting into the air. In Ibiono Ibom, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan personally hijacked election materials meant for several wards and took them to Asanting Ibiono and Nkwa.
“In conclusion therefore, as affected parties, we wish to intimate the media of our resolve to boycott future elections if the last one is not cancelled and rescheduled to be conducted properly. We also demand that the resident electoral commissioner, the operations officer and electoral officers be redeployed from Akwa Ibom State before the rescheduled elections and future elections are conducted.â€
—Henry Ojelu/Uyo