The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun on Thursday met APC leaders in 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 was also attended by the party’s National Secretary,
Mai Mala Buni.
The Akwa Ibom APC delegation comprised: the party’s governorship candidate
Umana Okon Umana; state APC Chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai, Chief Don Obot
Etiebet, Member APC Board of Trustees and other APC stakeholders from the
state.
Odigie-Oyegun told the Akwa Ibom delegation that the party was waiting for
the Supreme Court to give reasons for the decisions in Akwa Ibom and other
states.
The APC Chairman disclosed 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
“overwhelming evidence” presented before the Apex 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.
Umana 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.”
Umana said at the meeting: “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
“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.”