BEVERLY HILLS, February 11, (THEWILL) – The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has met with APC leaders from Akwa Ibom state over the recent Supreme Court judgement on the disputed governorship election in the state.
The meeting with the Akwa Ibom delegation which held at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, on Thursday, was also attended by the party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni.
Odigie-Oyegun told the delegation that the party was waiting for the Supreme Court to give reasons for the decisions in Akwa Ibom and other states adding that the party’s leadership will meet at a yet-to-be announced date to deliberate and decide on the way forward.
“What is paramount is how to move forward on the situation that confronts us. We should reach conclusions that will guide us as a party in the months ahead,” Odigie-Oyegun said.
Speaking at the meeting, the party’s governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state, Umana Umana, decried the Supreme Court judgement despite the “overwhelming evidence” presented before the Court confirming election fraud and violence perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to Umana, local and international election monitors including the United States Embassy and the European Union (EU) and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) reached independent conclusions that the Akwa Ibom elections were marred by widespread irregularities and violence.
“Indeed we are not happy in Akwa Ibom state with the situation. Our people were not allowed to vote. It was not just a case of card readers, even the voters register proved clear cases of over voting. The EU, TMG and other international observer groups issued statements condemning the elections,” he said.
“Against this background, we thought if we approach the court, we will get justice. We submitted over 350 exhibits including video proving election violence and malpractices.
“It was a case of double jeopardy. During the election our people were killed. We went to court and we could not get justice.”
Umana also quoted the Court of Appeal saying: “May this country never again experience the violence and thuggery found to have taken place in Akwa Ibom State during the Governorship elections held on 11th April 2015.”
Also present were Dr. Amadu Attai, APC Chairman Akwa-Ibom State; Chief Don Obot Etiebet, Member APC Board of Trustees and other APC stakeholders from the state.
Story by David Oputah
