- They’re only being hysterical, crying wolf where none exists – APC
A head of the crucial 2019 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State has raised the alarm, alleging a secret plot by the All Progressives Congress in the state to rig the polls.
The State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, told our correspondent that the party, through its intelligence network, had uncovered a syndicate working to disenfranchise the electorate and manipulate the exercise in favour of
the APC.
Part of the plans, according to Ememobong, included the ongoing “PVC-in- exchange for fake empowerment form by agents of the APC”, adding, “The exercise is mostly carried out in rural areas of the state.”
The electorate should be properly reminded of the need to know their rights
The PDP scribe, who stressed the need for proper public enlightenment and education of voters, therefore, warned party supporters against trading their PVCs for what he described as “non-existent jobs or empowerment opportunities.”
“What we are saying is that the electorate should be properly reminded of the need to know their rights as we go to the polls early next year, especially those uneducated people, including the aged, who might easily be deceived into parting with their PVCs for peanuts,” he explained.
He, therefore, enjoined PDP supporters not to be distracted by the recent defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio to the APC, noting that such action was within the rights of the former minority leader, assuring, “It will not affect the outcome of the elections in the state as the PDP would continue to maintain Akwa Ibom as one of its strongholds since the return of democracy in 1999.”
Ememobong also urged the Federal Government to endeavour to provide a level playing field for all contenders in the forthcoming polls, warning that the people of Akwa Ibom would resist any attempt to stampede the electoral process using the so called Federal
might.
When contacted on the allegation by the ruling party in the state, the APC Chairman, Hon. Ini Okopido, dismissed the allegation, saying the PDP was only trying to overheat the polity with baseless allegations.
He said the APC was well entrenched in the state to win the polls without engaging in any malpractice and explained that “the PDP is currently engaging in voter registration and re-validation exercise across the state preparatory to the
polls”.
