Senator Godswill Akpabio has claimed that APC won the 2019 elections at all the units and ward levels but lost them to INEC.
He told newsmen yesterday in Uyo that his Essien Udim local government area was the only one where APC won the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Akpabio said that the results of the polls would be challenged at the tribunal because the APC won the elections at the polling units but lost at the INEC offices because the election umpire was biased.
He said: “I want to state categorically that those claiming victory and regarded themselves as victors in the last election in Akwa Ibom State on March 9 should regard it as a purchased victory. It was money at work. The people hopes were dashed.”
Akpabio wondered why his local government which gave the APC governorship candidate 74,000 votes at the local government collation centres could be reduced to only 60,000 at INEC office.
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He accused the commission of employing PDP members as collation officers, stressing that 99 per cent 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 perils. I don’t know why Mr. Mike Igini chose to become such a biased umpire.”
“He said he fought for democracy but I believe he is fighting to destroy our democracy. I will leave him to God,” Akpabio said.
But Igini said that the election was free, fair and credible.
He said: “When we arrived in Akwa Ibom State 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 INEC has the capacity to provide a fair chance for all candidates and political parties to go to the people to earn their votes, and that the will of the people will prevail.
“That was what we promised; that was 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,” he said.
