APRIL 26: THE RIGGING IN AKWA IBOM WAS UNPRECEDENTED

Dear Editor

APRIL 26: THE RIGGING IN AKWA IBOM WAS UNPRECEDENTED

I had followed religiously media opinions expressed by respected individuals who constantly and in advance warned IGP Hafiz Ringim and the INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega of their fears for the governorship election in Akwa Ibom. Such opinions suggested posting away the Akwa Ibom Police Commissioner, Felix Uyanna, who was the only unaffected State Police Commissioner in Ringim’s reassignment of all the Police Commissioners to the States other than where they were before 31st March, 2011. Professor Jega was warned to reassign the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Maria Owi, who was compromised.

Reporting the April 26 governorship election, The PUNCH online April 27, 2011, in a story “Akwa Ibom: Five feared dead in election fracas”, reported that five persons were killed in Ibiono Ibom, Nsit Atai and Ibesikpo/Asutan. According to the newspaper, it was when suspected members of the PDP were accused of electoral materials snatching. It reported that some ad-hoc staff and corps members were also wounded while trying to run to safety in Ibiono Ibom Ward 5, where some security men got to polling booths and carted away ballot boxes while shooting sporadically in the air to scare voters. The same thing happened in Ikot Ubo. In Uyo ward 2, PDP agents were accused of canvassing and inducing people to vote for PDP candidate. The Punch reported that Utu Ikot Eboro Ward 1 in Etim Ekpo, security agents (Aduma) and agents of PDP had beaten to pulp a voter suspected to be ACN supporter, claiming that the area was PDP zone in conformity that no other party except PDP were allowed to campaign in Annang land; the same thing that caused the mayhem of March 22. On page 13 of Daily Sun April 27 was a picture of a Youth Corper cricitcally at Emmanuel Hospital Eket; he was “beaten up by security agents in Eket for failing to compromise.”

With all this report, it clearly showed that PDP was more desperate in Akwa Ibom than any other party. Professor Jega ignored genuine several advance alerts and fears expressed by the electorates through the numerous telephone lines provided by INEC. In Akwa Ibom, the IG of Police through the media and the Akwa Ibom Commissioner Felix Uyanna was alerted on the activities of one security outfit (called ‘Aduma’) being used by the State government just like the ‘Bakassi’ in Abia. One continued to be baffled that President Jonathan allowed Akwa Ibom governor to create no go areas for other parties during political campaign. PDP was the only authorised party to campaign in Annang land. What a funny (allowed) situation?

Written by Mr. Kingsley Ikpe Udoh, Plot 213 Goldie Street, Calabar, Cross River State. kikpeudoh@yahoo.com