YPP accuses INEC, Akwa Ibom government of rigging, violence during governorship election

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom State has accused Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conniving with the state government to carry out a “well-orchestrated rigging scheme and bloodletting,” against the party and its supporters during the state election.

The governorship and House of Assembly elections were held in the state on March 18.

In a statement in Uyo, the state secretary of the party, Kelvin Umoh, alleged that the election was rigged in favor of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the country.

Eammnauel Adigio, a professor who is the State Returning Officer for INEC, on Sunday said Umo EnoPDP candidate, as governor-elect because he scored the highest number of votes in the election.

He said Mr. Eno won in 29 out of the 31 local government areas in the state with a total of 354,348 votes to beat the YPP candidate, Bassey Albert, who won in two local government areas, with 136,262 votes. Akanimo Udofia of APC came third in the race with 129,602 votes.

But Mr. Umoh, who PREMIUM TIMES reported how he rejected the results on Sunday after Mr. Eno was declared the winner at the State Assembly Center, saying he did so because the election results did not reflect the will of the voters in the country.

He also claimed that four YPP members were killed during the election but only mentioned the name of one person.

PREMIUM TIMES cannot independently verify this claim.

The state police spokesperson, Odiko Macdon, did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.

In a press briefing on Friday, Mr. Umoh said that reports from his agents which he claimed were verified by independent observers showed the election “was a fraud only on the intelligence of the voters,” which he claimed wanted to bring the right leadership in the next dispensation of the country.

“To attract poll watchers and members of the public, the syndicate rigging the state administration and INEC officials chose several locations so that the action could be conducted fairly – especially in most of the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and Uyo Senatorial District while the Eket Senatorial District was shambolic, because the majority of the results of the polling unit have been written in advance.

“Worse still, the PDP state administration has also deployed thugs in Police, military and Paramilitary uniforms to kill, torture, maim and expel YPP Party Agents and supporters in Polling units and Registration Area Centers (RAC) across the State.

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“Many things happened like the case in Ibiono Ibom where PDP armed militia killed some of our supporters including Mr. Abraham Bassey Ekpenyong at the INEC office. This heinous act was carried out by a police team from Government House, Uyo led by Danjuma Saleh who moved a convoy of six white Hilux pickup trucks .

“Furthermore, three of our supporters were killed in Etim Ekpo and several others in other LGAs across the country. Even in Onna LGA, home of Governor Udom Emmanuel, thugs in police and military uniforms led by the Chief protocol officer, Mr. Edmond Ufang, are terrorizing and destroy our supporters freely,” Mr. Umoh said.

PDP reacted

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the PDP governorship campaign in the state, Chris Abasieyo, denied Mr. Albert’s allegations.

Mr. Eyo, a former information commissioner in the state, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the margin of defeat was too wide to convince anyone that YPP “completely lost,” the race.

“The news I am telling you is that there is more bloodshed in Ibiono (Ibom Local Government Area) where YPP won than anywhere else. PDP is not in touch with government agencies so that they can be rigged.

“PDP is Akwa Ibom and Akwa is PDP. When we say it is religion it is shown through votes like this. We have heard about federal power in 2019 and finally PDP won. PDP will continue to win here. This victory shows that many people are bragging about their popularity, fame and power, they are always riding on the back of the PDP,” he said.

INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, did not respond to a request for comment on the alleged fraud against the commission.