The rerun election in Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom State has commenced despite the withdrawal of the All Progressive sCongress (APC) and its candidates from the race which was ordered by the Court of Appeal.
The candidates that have withdrawn include Godswill Akpabio, who had earlier sought to be substituted but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had insisted that he remains the candidate in the election.
Others candidates of the APC who announced their withdrawal from the race include Emmanuel Akpan of the APC for the Ikot Ekpene federal constituency, and Nse Ntuen for the Essien Udim State constituency.
They declared their decisions to withdrawn from the rerun in press statements issued less than 24 hours to the commencement of the election.
Chairman of the party, Ini Okopido, told a press conference that APC would not participate in the election, alleging that INEC led by Mike Igini, the resident electoral commissioner in the state, would not be fair to the party.
“We have officially as a party withdrawn from the rerun elections in Essien Udim local government area. We are so dissatisfied with the conduct of INEC in Akwa Ibom State and we have withdrawn from the elections,’’ he said.
But this was countered by the PDP which noted that the alleged withdrawal by the APC was a tactical plan to unleash mayhem during the elections.
Emmanuel Enoidem, national legal adviser of the party, told a press conference that Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, was perfecting plans to rig the rerun elections.
In Ukana West, Akpabio’s stronghold, there have been reports of violence in many of the wards, with some NYSC members and INEC officials allegedly abducted and their phones seized. There were also reports of violence and hijacking of election materials in many other units and taken to the private residence of a top APC politician in the area.
In a statement made available to the media, Ini Ememobong, Publicity Secretary of the PDP accused Akpabio of being behind the hijacking of election materials, alleging that the minister was spearheading mayhem in the rerun election.
According to the statement, Akpabio is responsible for the deployment of violence and electoral malpractices at his polling unit noting that every effort by the minister has been done to frustrate the monitoring of the election by journalists and observers.
“We are gathering evidence and will take steps to forward them to all relevant national and international agencies including embassies and Interpol. Election must be held freely, peacefully and without any pressure whatsoever,’’ he said.
Meanwhile Akpabio has dissociated himself from the violence in his home local government area of Essien Udim describing news linking the minister to the election as fake.
Anietie Ekong, his press secretary said Akpabio and the two other candidates had withdrawn from the election in addition to the announcement by the party chairman deciding against taking part in the election.
“So on what basis would any sane human being link Akpabio to whatever is happening in Essien Udim local government area,’’ he said.
The result of the election is expected to be announced on Sunday.
