Barely few days to the governorship and state assemblies elections, the
Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) wants the
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abba to investigate allegations
that the Labor Party ( LP ) sponsored the thugs that invaded the collation
centre for Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency and abducted some electoral
officers in a failed bid to stall the collation of results in that
election.
The PDP in a statement issued in Calabar and signed by its Secretary, Mr
Goddy Etta, also wants an investigation into the relationship between the
Labour Party candidate for the federal constituency, Chief Alex
‎Egbuna and Prof Emmanuel Duru, the Returning Officer in that
election.
Etta said an investigation has become imperative following allegations
that the Labor Party candidate did not only influence the posting of the
said Returning Officer to his Constituency, but also allegedly offered him
bribe so that he would not collate the results of the election once it
became apparent that he was losing the election.
“During the invasion of the collation centre by the Labor Party thugs, one
of the electoral officers, Maxwell Eba made a lucky escape and has since
granted
interviews to several national dailies. In his own account of what
happened, Eba said as the results were being collated, Labor Party agents
at the centre were seen making phone calls.
“Not long after making the phone calls, these agents suddenly disappeared
from the centre. And within a twinkle of an eye, the centre was invaded by
thugs‎, who abducted at least three electoral officers.”
Ettah said his party, therefore wants the incident investigated and those
found culpable brought to book.
The PDP decried what it described as desperate antics‎ of the Labour
Party candidate for Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, Alex Egbuna whom it
said, is bent on discrediting the outcome of the elections by inventing
lies, including simulating a scene of alleged thumb-printing of ballot
papers in favour of PDP candidates.
“You can’t imagine the desperation of Alex Egbuna. We are aware that he
has even gone to the extent of simulating a scene to make it look like
INEC officials thumb-printed for our candidates.
For instance, he contacted some journalists in the state to come and
record the drama they were acting and present to the world as what
transpired during the election. In his unbridled desperation and deceit,
he even caused to be broadcast via scroll bar alleged inconclusive conduct
of the poll in Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency. This was in gross
contravention of the INEC guideline that the electoral umpire was the only
statutory body required to make public results or matters pertaining to
the poll.
But upon realising that it was misled, the TV station swiftly yanked off
the news scroll bar.
“However, one of the journalists, a reporter working with a credible
television station, declined their millions for the hatchet job as her
conscience wouldn’t allow her