Akamkpa/Biase Fed. Constituency Re-run: APC Still Leads With 2,433 Votes, As PDP Mobilises
Akamkpa/Biase Fed. Constituency Re-run: APC Still Leads With 2,433 Votes, As PDP Mobilises
By Victor UDU
It is yet unclear what the outcome of the re-run as ordered by the Court of Appeal in respect of the Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency would be.
However, available facts from the Court's ruling puts the APC on the advantage with 2, 433 votes across the 19 polling units slayed for the supplementary election.
According to Appeal ruling the total scores for the APC and PDP at the end of the National Assembly Election of Feb 25, 2023 for the both parties stood at13,998 for APC and while the PDP 11,194 for PDP giving a difference of 2, 433 votes.
Tribunal further ruled that there was no election in 19 polling Units and consequently ordered a supplementary elections at Primary school Akparavuni, Akpet/Abini ward,
Village square Ehom, Ehom Ward, PCN Primary school, Evia, Ehom Ward, VillageSquare, Umoulor, Erei North, Playground Abaribara 1, Abayom Ward, Playground Abaribara 11, Abayom Ward, and Primary school Ikoi Esai, Iko Ward.
Other units are Okop-Edi playground -Uyanga, Uyanga Ward, playground Osumba
10.Playground Ekong Anaku.---Ojuk North, Playground Iku, Ikpai Ward, 12.Akwa Ibami playground, Uyanga Ward, Primary School Ojor Ward and Uyanga Ward.
The Tribunal in its wisdom cancelled the votes accorded the two parties in six polling units out of the overall 19 units where the supplementary elections is to hold.
The cancelled units are Bus stop, Akpet central APC,104 votes and PDP, 36 votes; Playground Emouno with APC 122 votes and PDP 10 votes; Market Square Itu
Agwagune with APC 51 votes and PDP 1 vote; Primary
School, Ibini with. APC 82 votes and PDP 52 votes; Town Hall Emienyo Biakpan with APC 103 votes and PDP 40 votes and Playground
Ijom with APC 89 votes and PDP 37 votes totallying 551 and 180 cancelled votes for APC and PDP respectively
Following the cancellation, from the 13,998 votes originally secured by the, APC, 551 votes was deducted by the Tribunal leaving APC with 13,447 votes.
Similarly, from the 11,194 votes originally secured by the PDP,180 votes were deducted leaving the PDP with 11,014 votes.
In the light of the above, a difference of 2,433 votes puts the APC ahead of PDP., implying that the opposition would have to first address the difference to be at par with the APC before going for additional votes in the prescribed 19 polling units where the re-run was ordered to win.
An analyst, Ntufam Marthins Ojong, said the PDP has much to do to square up with the ruling party that is on the advantage already based on the margin of votes.
Reacting, an APC stalwart, Hon. Charles Eko, said from Appeal ruling Rep Emil Inyang and his party still has a big advantage and would clinch the supplementary election with ease.
Eko, the former Leader of Biase Legislative Council, said:"APC is set to still claim its mandate given to it by Baiase and Akamkpa voters. It is only a temporary set back.
"I can assure you that even the polling units slated for re-run are our strong holds and would not go out to mobilize and return our candidate to the Lower Chamber.
"I, therefore, call on voters in those areas to come out en mass and do it again because we cannot afford to be in an opposition when everybody is collapsing into APC."
A PDP member from Erei community, Emmanuel Ogbang, said the party is ready and would shock APC this time to prove to the world that the Tribunal ruling was not a fluke, adding "Akamkpa/Biase have been PDP before now."
Recall the election petition tribunal had sacked and ordered INEC to retrieve certificate of return from the Member House of Representatives representing Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, Dr. Emil Inyang and ordered a re-run in the affected 19 polling Units.
On March 10, 23, INEC announced Inyang winner With 13,998 votes while the petitioner, Hon Austine Aidam garnered 11,194 votes. Labour party came third With a total of 6,4002 votes.
The Appeal Court sitting in Lagos recently upheld the decision of the Tribunal on the matter and consequently ordered a supplementary election in the I9 polling Units while it cancelled of 551 and 180 votes from APC and PDP respectively.
