Electoral Fraud: Buhari Draws Battleline With Igini … Says Akpabio Will Reclaim Victory
By UbongAbasi Ise
Given the public outcry against
the outcome of February 23 elections in Akwa Ibom State conducted under the
watch of Mr. Mike Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, the President
of the federation, Muhammadu Buhari , has
vowed to prevent a repeat of irregularities that marred the Presidential and
national assembly elections as the state is heading to gubernatorial and state
house of assembly elections on Saturday March 9.
Buhari gave this assurance
Monday in a Town hall meeting in Uyo with the stakeholders of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, during a one-day visit to the state to appreciate
Akwa Ibom electorates for casting their votes for the APC on February 23.
Vice President, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo who represented the President,
stated how special Akwa Ibom State is to the Federal government and
declared that what happened in the presidential and national assembly polls in
the state should not be allowed to ruin the hopes of the APC faithful on the
coming Saturday.
“We cannot afford on the
account of what took place on last Saturday to jeopardize the great victory
that awaits us on Saturday March 9. There is no reason whatsoever why this
state should not join all other states and the federal government at the
centre.
“It is the duty of the Federal
Government to provide security and we will do that. But what is important is
that you go out to vote. We will recover every of our vote,” he said.
He stated that it was not
possible for Senator Godswill Akpabio to have lost the elections, adding that
the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, robbed him and the party
of victory promising that all the malfeasance and irregularities experienced
during the Presidential and National Assembly elections would be addressed.
“What happened on the 23rd of
February was robbery. The votes of the people were stolen but we are not
deterred. The President sent me to thank you today. We are going to make sure
that everything that was stolen on the 23rd of February would be restored.
“It is not possible that
Senator Godswill Akpabio lost. We are in no doubt that Senator Akpabio is the
elected senator of Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district. I and Adams
Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the party have been in the opposition for
long and we cannot be defeated anymore.
“Every one of you should go
out to vote on Saturday and defend your votes, we cannot be cheated; not only
you but tell your neighbours to vote for Obong Nsima Ekere and all APC
candidates. Wait for your votes to be counted. It is the duty of the Federal
government to provide security and we will do that. We will recover every one
of our votes,” he said.
Also speaking, the National
Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, said the forthcoming polls are more
important to the APC than the just concluded Presidential and national assembly
elections because of the commitment of the party to support the people of Akwa
Ibom State and for the fact that Next Level cannot be possible at the Federal
if it has no root in the states.
“This forthcoming elections are
even more important to us than the last one because we saw the amount of
progress this state recorded under Senator Godswill Akpabio – the International
Stadium, Ibom Hospital and managers of the 5-Star Hotel now dismissed because
of dirty narrow-mindedness. Our commitment to support you is a reflection of
our commitment to support the great people of Akwa Ibom State.
“Next Level is not possible at
the Federal if it has no root in the states. A reactionary government cannot
maintain a progressive federal policy and that is why President Buhari
introduced the 1meal per day for every Nigerian child, unprecedented in our
history. This progressive policy cannot be implemented by a reactionary PDP
government at the state levels. So, Next Level demands that we groom this system
at the local and state levels,” he said.
©The Sensor Newspaper
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