A’Ibom Election Rerun: Electorates Beg INEC For Another Election

April 17, (THEWILL) – Electorates in Itak community in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, have urged INEC not to just annul the results of the rerun election in the 17 Units of the ward but to consider a fresh date for the people of the area to vote their chosen candidate.

Speaking to THEWILL on the ill-fated exercise, a political stakeholder in the community, Chief Ambrose Okon, fingered desperate politicians for the violence experienced on Saturday, saying it was intended to discredit the process and arm-twist INEC.

He insisted that it would be unfair to declare a winner without taking into consideration the input from the populous Itak communities.

According to him, “We are all witnesses to the ugly incidents that occurred last Saturday, we mobilized and trooped out en masse to elect our representative to the National Assembly but met chaos in some of our various units.”

Also speaking with our correspondent, a woman leader in Itak, Mrs Helen Etim, regretted that the aborted rerun election was deliberately orchestrated to disenfranchise the people.

“We resolved to use the election to ensure that the existing zoning arrangements in our federal constituency are not truncated since it is the turn of Ini Local Government Area to produce a lawmaker for the Federal Constituency,” she further highlighted.

Tribune recalls that following widespread violence and maiming of voters and INEC officials during the rerun election in the 17 Units of Ward 11, Itak, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cancelled the supplementary election of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency held on Saturday.

Our Correspondent observed that voting could not take place in almost all the units due to the massive shooting by sponsored thugs to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election hence the cancellation by the INEC.

Announcing the cancellation, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Cyril Omoregbe, who briefed collation officers in his office on Saturday evening, said the election stands cancelled following reports of violence that claimed few lives and injured many.

Also, recall that Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo of the YPP, led the PDP Candidate, Dr. Glory Edet, in the National Assembly election held on February 25 2023.

During the rerun, alleged fake army men invaded some polling units and attacked electoral officers and voters, resulting in the shooting of a youth corps member.

Supporters of the incumbent representative, Hon. Ukpong-Udo, are said to be in a celebration mood despite the inconclusive election in the constituency.

The 17 polling units in Itak, which was the focus of the bye-election with over six thousand voters, are poised to be a deciding factor on who would be the next representative for the constituency.

INEC is yet to issue a statement on a fresh date when adequate security could be provided for the election to be concluded in the federal constituency.

Source: TheWillNigeria | Read More