Provide Evidence To Show Gov Udom Emmanuel Is Working With INEC To Rig Election – PDP Slams YPP

The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has been asked to provide evidence to show that the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, is working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state to rig the rescheduled governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Naija News reports that the Akwa Ibom State PDP in a statement issued by it’s Publicity Secretary, Borono Bassey challenged the YPP chairman, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, to produce prove to his claim that the governor was working with INEC to rig the election in favour of the PDP in the state.

According to him, the party is shocked at the claims of the YPP because it is trying to dent the image of INEC and the PDP ahead of the polls.

The PDP’s reaction follows an accusation levelled against the governor by the Akwa Ibom YPP chairman on Wednesday.

Andy had alleged that Udom Emmanuel visited the INEC and spent several hours there, adding that the YPP is informed that some BVAS devices have been preset with figures in favour of PDP before commencement of voting. In such instances, the 0000 on the BVAS will not be seen.

The YPP chieftain claimed that the party had received intelligence of an alleged plot to favour the ruling PDP in the state and called on the police, the DSS and international observers to take curious interest in Akwa Ibom to avert the plot.

Andy claimed that the state PDP with it’s relations with INEC has perfected plans to rig the forthcoming polls in some specific areas.

Andy submitted that “Voting materials meant for Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency must not leave INEC office until 12.30pm on Saturday March 11th, 2023.

“Voting materials meant for the entire Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District must not be completed in some Federal Constituencies and must not leave INEC office before 10.00 a.m.

“Voting materials meant for Eket Senatorial District must leave INEC office on time as it is the presumed ‘sure bet zone’ for the PDP as the state governor hails from there. The early departure of materials for the district is to be well publicised to distract attention or disclaim any accusation about late transportation of materials to any other locations.

“PDP thugs in company of illegal police officers and some genuine military personnel will be drafted to strongholds of opposition parties (emphasis was on YPP) to disrupt election through violence and destroy all the voting materials and even pretend to kidnap some INEC officials so as to exonerate INEC from the deal.”

However, the PDP in it’s reaction in a statement titled ” 2023 Elections and YPP’s First Alibi for Looming Defeat” said “We challenge Apostle Nyeneime Andy to produce even the tiniest shred of evidence that show that governor Udom Emmanuel had visited INEC office on the said day, else the lying state chairman of YPP should never stand before his church to preach against the sin of lying.

“We are shocked that the ill-fated and makeshift Political Party – YPP, is using reverse psychology to make false accusation on the electoral umpire, INEC, our Party, the PDP and Governor Udom Emmanuel, given that the security agencies have received several tip-offs about heinous activities by known YPP chieftains ahead of the forthcoming elections.

“For instance, there are videos showing notable YPP chieftains in the state at INEC offices in different Local Governments in Akwa Ibom state dishing out crude intimidations and making attempts to assault staff of INEC.

“We must warn that our party will not tolerate a repeat of this kind of behaviour as we have petitioned the Security agencies to ensure that they deploy video surveillance all over the state and also apprehend chieftain of any political party who makes effort to mar the smooth, credible and peaceful conduct of the rescheduled elections

“Again, the PDP and the security agencies in Nigeria are also in receipt of intelligence from even top-ranking members of the YPP whose hearts still lie with the PDP that the YPP has ferried in thugs from neighbouring states and are camping them in facilities owned by known YPP chieftains in preparation to use in executing the plan in their playbook which is to unleash unimaginable violence on voters across the state.”