C'River PDP Rejects Outcome of LG Elections, Vows to Challenge Processes In Court
ATIM MGBE (OGOJA)
The Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have rejected totally the outcome of last Saturday, November 2, 2024 local government elections, describing it as monumental fraud.
The party in a statement entitled "We reject totally Ross River State Local Government Elections of Saturday, 2,2024," and signed by State Chairman, Venatius Ikem, Esq, condemned in strong terms the deliberate hoarding, and diversion of election materials meant for the council polls for the purpose of massive rigging.
The statement reads in part: "Verified reports obtained from our agents and independent observers pinpoint to well-orchestrated rigging plan which include the diversion of election materials, and the late arrival of insufficient ballot papers without standard serial numbers, and result sheets
"Also, at most polling units, CROSIEC official stamps were not provided for the Presiding Officers to stamp the ballot papers after appending their signatures for authentication as required by law.
"From inception, the processes were skewed to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the composition of the electoral umpire. We obviously underrated the charade that the electoral umpire was cooking in the name of the local government election witnessed on Saturday, November 2.
"In Calabar South, Municipality, Obudu, Abi, Obubra in particular, election materials, meant for the entire local governments, were diverted to the houses of APC stalwarts where thump printings were brazenly carried out.
"For instance, In Obudu no single election material was issued to anyone except the APC that took custody and carted them away to the Military School in Bedia where soldiers cordoned off every one except APC members ostensibly on the Orders of General Parker Undiandeye, elder brother of the APC candidate to whom Obudu was allegedly allocated.
"Again, in Obanliku and Bekwarra local government areas where ballot papers were distributed no single results sheets accompanied them and results were written on ordinary papers.
"Obviously, the poor performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC), both at the State and National levels, has instilled palpable fears amongst members of the ruling party, thereby leaving them timid and scared of a free and fair contest to avoid colossal embarrassment from the electorate. For now, it is not yet Uhuru for the ruling party.
"Accordingly, we reject any result emanating from the purported election because, as far as we are concerned, there was nothing like the local government election in Cross River State. We state boldy that never in the political history of Cross River State have electorate witnessed this kind of monumental electoral fraud perpetrated on Saturday, " the party stated unequivocally.
The party called on members to remain calm and peaceful as the party shall pursue the outcome in a competent court of law, adding "it is high time we put to an end attempts to deprive the citizens of their legitimate rights to elect who leads them at the local government level."
