INEC To Akwa Ibom APC: Face Your Petition At The Tribunal

By Ifiok Itiaba, Uyo

The Independent National Electoral Commission, Akwa Ibom State had advised the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to focus on its ongoing cases at the tribunal instead of wasting time plotting to assail the reputation of its officials.

The Commission gave the advise on Tuesday in a statement in Uyo following the release of the police report that exonerated  it of the allegation by the APC that one of its staff was arrested with four Smart Card Readers.  

The statement issued through its state Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Don Etukudo recalled that some months ago, its staff Mr. Ejike Nwankwo, was arrested by the police on the grounds that he was found with four Smart Card Readers (SCRs).

It further recalled how the Police had detained the said staff for about four days before contacting the Commission to enquire whether he was in lawful possession of the Smart Card Readers. 

“Before they contacted the Commission, a picture of Mr. Nwankwo was taken with the SCRs on display and sent to the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the APC. 

“As usual, the APC latched onto the incident and went to town with a story that Mr. Nwankwo was leading a team of technicians employed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini “to help him valid(sic) doctored 2019 elections in Akwa Ibom State”. 

“To lend the story some credibility, they claimed the SCRs were “recalibrated” and that Mr. Nwankwo who was actually arrested at about 3:00 pm was arrested by 2:00 am on a Sunday! This story was given the widest possible publicity in the social and mainstream media. 

“Instead of focusing on their cases at the tribunal, it was another opportunity to impugn the integrity of the REC and dismiss the elections as a fraud.

“The Commission promptly issued a statement to the effect that Mr. Nwankwo, a staff of the ICT Department of the Commission was in lawful possession of the SCRs. The four SCRs had no data in them and were used in the training of ad-hoc staff during the elections.

“In any case, the Commission explained that it was unreasonable to suggest that four SCRs out of the over 3,000 used during the elections could have been manipulated in anyway, to affect the process or outcome of the elections or the matters at the tribunals.       

“This statement was dismissed by the APC and their hirelings as afterthought in subsequent commentaries. As in other instances, the SCR incident was conclusive proof that Igini had committed electoral heist “having supervised the conduct of the worst elections ever in the history of Akwa Ibom State”. 

“The Commission wishes to inform the reading public that the police have, after over two months, concluded their investigations into the case and have issued a report which exonerates Mr. Ejike Nwankwo and vindicates the Commission.

“We advise the APC in the State, to avail itself of a copy of the Police Report. We are under no illusion that it will moderate their predilection to assail the reputation of the REC. No one should expect those without integrity to recognize or appreciate the virtue in someone else.

“The Commission wishes to inform the reading public that the police have, after over two months, concluded their investigations into the case and have issued a report which exonerates Mr. Ejike Nwankwo and vindicates the Commission”

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