Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Midim Ward 1 and Midim Ward 2 in Abak Local Government Area have expressed dissatisfaction over the cancellation of the results of election in Midim and called on the Electoral Officer (EO) in charge of the area to as a matter of urgency release the full details of the results.
In a well-attended Press Conference which took place at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chapter Office along Ikot Ekpene Road, Abak yesterday, the Leaders pointed out that it is not the duty of the Electoral Officer to cancel results as supplied to the Ward Returning Officers by the Units Presiding Officers and that the pretense of relying on the smart card readers only in Midim Ward One and Two is unacceptable, whereas elections were not cancelled in Abak Urban Ward 3 where according to them, the younger brother of the PDP Candidate for House of Representatives was caught by the Army snatching ballot papers and boxes.
In a text read by the APC Candidate for Abak State Constituency seat, Barr. Victor Nkanang and signed by prominent Leaders from the two wards, the Leaders wondered why elections were not cancelled in Afaha Obong Ward 2 where according to them, it is known that thugs of the PDP carted away sensitive election materials of unit 2, 3, 4 and 7 only to return them at about 2pm of the 24th February, 2019 and a strong petition was served on the Electoral Officer (EO) by the Elders of APC Afaha Obong Ward 1 to that effect.
“Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through its Abak Chapter conducted the Presidential and National Assembly elections on 23rd February, 2019 in the 125 units in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The elections were held in all the Polling Units/Voting Points through units Presiding Officers (POs) under the able direction of the Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO). In Midim Ward 1, for the Presidential and Senatorial elections, APC won convincingly in all the units and for the House of Representative elections.
APC lost only in one of the 13 units in Midim Ward 1 where elections were conducted. While the elections were in progress, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State visited Primary School Midim and Primary School, Ikot Imo, where he saw and was convinced that elections were conducted peacefully but a supervising team led by SSS operatives pressurized him to go back to his units as the visit was in violation of the electoral law.
That upon submission of results by POs who took charge and conducted the elections in the respective units under the supervision of a SPO, the Ward Returning Officer carefully collected the units result, worked out the total votes as was equally done by other returning offices and submitted it to the E.O for a temporary collation.
That when it was seen that the APC Candidate won the election, Mr. Obina, the EO suddenly flayed up and directed that result from six units of Midim II be cancelled. That when approached as the reasons for the cancellation, he failed to offer explanations. That to assuage the PDP, the EO subsequently decided to cancel the entire result of Midim ward one (1) because APC won landslide. The EO equally seeing that Midim Ward two (II) had good votes for the President, Senate and House of Representatives decided to cancel six units and allowed results for seven units only”, the text read in part.
The Leaders explained that the cancelled votes in Midim Ward 1 is 6,304, Midim Ward 2 = 7,511 while Otoro Ward 3 is 6,396 totaling 20,211.
They noted that the people of Midim are very peaceful and would not want to be thrown into turbulent waters.
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