Group threatens to sue INEC over inconclusive A’Ibom Reps election

A group, the Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance, has threatened to file a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the court for failing to conclude the rerun election for the House of Representatives seat in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State.

The group, in a statement issued on Thursday, May 4, by its coordinator, Stephen Abia, also called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, to urgently investigate and bring to book all culprits involved in the crisis that led to the disruption of the April 15 supplementary election and the shooting of a corps member who was on electoral assignment during the exercise.

It stressed that a new date should be urgently fixed for the conclusion of the rerun election which was earlier earmarked for the 17 Units of Ward 11, Itak, Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

INEC had cancelled the April 15 Supplementary election in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency held on Saturday, April 15 following the violent attacks by thugs who prevented the electoral officers from concluding the exercise which had previously been held peacefully.

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The incumbent lawmaker, Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo of the YPP, who led in the initial election held on February 25, was alleged to have vowed that he has INEC in his pocket and with or without the rerun he would be announced the winner.

However, Abia, who said he was on electoral monitoring duties as an observer during the elections, urged INEC not to just cancel the elections but to fix a fresh date for the people of the area to vote for their chosen candidate.

He insisted that if law enforcement officials do not maintain a hard stand against desperate politicians, it would be difficult to end electoral violence in the country.

“It would be unfair to deny the good people of the Itak communities, an opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights, as a result of the inactions of few desperate power mongers,” the group’s coordinator added.

The lawyer stated that the disruption of the April 15 rerun election was deliberately orchestrated to disenfranchise the people, adding that if the police fail to arrest and prosecute those involved, the truth would never be unveiled.

“If the electoral body delays in conducting a rerun election, it could only heighten the fears that it is playing hide and seek with the candidate, fingered behind the ugly incident during the rerun,” Abia said.

The Star