Voters, APC, other parties boycott A’Ibom LG elections

Akpan Umoh

Voters, All Progressives Congress, and other political parties on Saturday shunned the local government election held across the state.

The exercise was described to be purely the People’s Democratic Party affairs as apart from the political parties that boycotted it, other political leaders in the state were said to have also shunned it.

The APC had accused the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) of aligning with the ruling PDP, declaring its lack of confidence in the electoral body to conduct a credible, free and fair election.

The opposition party had also kicked against the creation of additional 39 wards, saying it was unconstitutional and a ploy by the AKISIEC to rig the council election in favour of the PDP

As a result, the APC had declared its intention to boycott the local government poll in a press statement signed by its state publicity secretary, Nkereuwem Enyongekere.

Therefore, Saturday’s council election witnessed a massive voter apathy across most units and wards in the state.

In Eket local government area, for instance, some units did not receive voting materials on time even as distribution of materials were terribly slow when they finally arrived.

Materials arrived Eket central 3, Afia Nist at about 10.42 am, only the electoral officers and security agents were available.

In Uyo urban ward 1, 2, 3 and 4, no voter was seen around the polling units even though electoral officers were on the ground and ready for the elections by 9 am.

But the exercise was generally peaceful as no case of ballot snatching, reckless driving and violence were reported from the units visited as at the time of filing this report.

However, Governor Udom Emmanuel has commended the AKISIEC for working to ensure a transparent and smooth Local Government election in the state.

He has also applauded the electorate for conducting themselves peacefully and orderly during the exercise.

Emmanuel gave the commendation on Saturday at his polling unit, Awa ward 1 after carrying out a simultaneous accreditation and voting at 10 am.

“I think this is one of the peaceful elections we have ever had. I drove from Uyo down here trying to monitor the elections. I like the quietness and orderliness of the elections and I am also surprised at the preparedness of AKISIEC, the quality of materials; it is of an extremely high standard.

“The transparency of the processes is commendable. They have done good work, but it is unfortunate that people will still be complaining even when we score the process 99 per cent. I would only encourage them to do more.

Asked whether he still has confidence in the Local government system, Emmanuel says “I have confidence in the system. If I did not have confidence, why should I waste my time coming here? I have confidence much more than ever before. This is the most peaceful elected to elected elections, grace pass grace”. he said

The Presiding Officer of the ward, Destiny Bob who also spoke with reporters said accreditation and elections were done simultaneously, adding that despite the poor turn out of voters, the elections would end by 2 pm.

His said: “Elections started by 8 am but it’s now 10 am, we are still waiting for voters. No party agents are here but I believe they will come.”