Stop attacking INEC over your poor outing in the elections, ‘Ibom Patriots’ hit APC

Ibom Patriot, a socio-cultural group in Akwa Ibom state, has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) over what it described as “carefully doctored reports” to misguide, misinform and possibly blur public perception of the genuine outcome of the 2019 elections in the state.

At a press briefing in Uyo, Bassey Inuaeyen, chancellor of Ibom Patriots, said “in its usual abrasive manner”, the APC has released several articles, press statements and social media posts to further its campaign of calumny on the last general election.

“Perhaps, its leadership hopes by copiously weaving these lies against the widely commended exercise it can, by any chance, influence the Governorship/National Assembly and State Assembly elections’ Petitions tribunal outside what is legally available to the jurists,” he said.

Inaueyen said APC is fully aware that its petitions will “suffer a similar fate as its unpopular candidates” now resort to alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) colluded with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the elections.

“As the conscience of the state nay the nation, Ibom Patriots frowns at these tactless abuse of media platforms and puerile attempts to discredit our democratic institutions. Facts from submitted reports of independent election observers, show that the 2019 general elections in Akwa Ibom State as conducted by INEC were the freest, fairest, transparent and widely celebrated. In addition to local and international observers, other enowned bodies including security agencies and the media that were involved in the entire electoral processes did not only affirm the results, but equally praised INEC officials, particularly the State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr. Mike Igini for driving the entire processes faithfully without yielding to pressure to circumvent or compromise the exercise or the expressed will of the people,” he said.

“It is well known that Barr. Mike Igini is an upright electoral umpire. The Commission readily testifies that Barr. Igini has always served diligently in all the States where he has been posted to, since his engagement with the body. At the INEC’s Stakeholders’ meeting in Akwa Ibom State on the 6th of August 2018, Obong Victor Attah, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and an elder statesman, had this to say: “Mike your integrity and commitment to the conduct of proper election are qualities that are well known and acknowledged in and out of this country, I urge you, for the survival of democracy to bring those qualities to bear on the conduct of the next set of elections in Akwa Ibom State.

“Obviously, these expectations were met by INEC in the State. The commission ensured that the sanctity of the ballot box was maintained with the popular doctrine of one man one vote conscientiously applied. So why the fuss now? Why is APC out to destroy an electoral process that was nationally and internationally celebrated? Why can’t APC wait for the judicial process to be completed? Why sponsor this daily media attack on Mike Igini and the will of Akwa Ibom people?

“Having watched the build-up to the elections and the subsequent outcome, it was manifestly clear that APC, instead of campaigning for votes, had given itself the luxury of employing ‘federal might’ to win the polls, with attendant boast that the elections’ outcome would be concluded in mere three (3) hours! The Party, through one of its loquacious apostles, had even likened their planned electoral approach to the manner the German’s maximum ruler, Adolf Hitler invaded Poland with the infamous statement of “Warsaw saw war and war saw Warsaw.

“Akwa Ibom people, as peace loving, rose up from all strata and prayed to God to avert the threats, consequently the elections came and went without the ‘holocaust’ as was foretold. The elections were accordingly won and lost. APC was expected to exhibit the virtues of true democrats by accepting the outcome and to congratulate the winners, fully aware that the electoral outcome represented the supreme will of the people. Unfortunately, they failed this important patriotic test. However, we do understand that should there exist doubt amongst contenders in an election, parties are free to seek legal remedies. But, this must be done evidentially, and not through trial – by – media as done by the APC. This clueless propaganda to misinform the unsuspecting public must stop.

“We make bold to say that the media war to malign INEC and Barr. Mike Igini is completely on an obtuse course. As a pan -Akwa Ibom socio-cultural cum intelligentsia organization, Ibom Patriots condemns in totality this needless mudslinging against the resounding electoral victory of Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and other elected representatives arising from the February 23rd and March 9th general elections respectively.”