| Chief Paul Ekpo |
The Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Paul Ekpo, has taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC), over the claim by the latter, that the petition of its gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, is being frustrated by bribe allegedly offered to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr. Austin Okojie, by former Governor Godswill Akpabio.
Ekpo, in a statement made available to journalists in Uyo, described as false, spurious and baseless, the alarmist cry by the state chapter of the APC, accusing the former governor of the state, now a senator.
Umana, APC governorship candidate in the last election and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Victor Iyanam, in a petition dated July 8 and addressed to the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), and the Inspector General of Police, accused Okojie of collecting bribe from Akpabio in order to work against APC’s interest and that of its governorship candidate at the election tribunal.
Reacting to the allegation, Ekpo, who laughed off the APC allegation, observed that while it was not necessary to join issues with the party, which he said is reputed to thrive on propaganda and blackmail, it was pertinent to set the records straight so that the gullible and unsuspecting public is not misled and misinformed by the APC.
The state PDP boss said the bribe story only exists in the imagination of its authors. He challenged the APC to present evidence of how the alleged sum of N2.5 billion was disbursed to INEC officials by the state government, through whom, and by what channel it was transmitted.
Ekpo berated the APC for what he termed provocative acts of mudslinging, in a desperate bid to arm twist the election tribunal and influence its judgment, which he said, would not work.
The PDP state Chairman reiterated his implicit confidence in the tribunal to protect the overwhelming mandate freely given by Akwa Ibom people to Governor Udom Emmanuel, and charged the APC to allow a matter that was before the tribunal be sorted out by them, and stop the distractions its false utterances are causing.
Ekpo also disclosed that the PDP was aware that the DSS was quizzing some Akwa Ibom top INEC officials, noting that acts of intimidation and abuse of power were unnecessary in a democracy.
He, however, called on all PDP supporters and the good people of the state to remain steadfast and continue to support the PDP administration led by Emmanuel in the state to deliver on its agenda of economic development, job and wealth creation, as well as industrialisation.
In a related development, the counsel to PDP, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), has revealed that INEC has made available in Abuja, electoral materials used in the conduct of the April 11, 2015, governorship polls in obedience to the election tribunals order and that inspection and photocopy of materials have begun in earnest, wondering why people should peddle false information on a straight forward matter.
Usoro said rather than engage in media propaganda and needless manipulation of public sentiments, the APC should concentrate on the kernel of her petition without denigrating individuals and institutions.
thisday
No comments:
Post a Comment