The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the leading opposition in Cross River State, has condemned last weekend’s local government elections, labeling them a “monumental fraud” unprecedented in the state’s political history.
In a statement released in Calabar and signed by the party’s state chairman, Venatius Ikem, the PDP asserted, “We state boldly that never in the political history of Cross River State have the electorate witnessed this kind of monumental electoral fraud perpetrated on Saturday.”
Ikem accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the electoral process from the very beginning to ensure their dominance.
He alleged that the composition of the electoral commission was biased, with close associates of government officials appointed to carry out the ruling party’s agenda.
Ikem criticized the electoral process as a “charade,” claiming the independent electoral commission was orchestrating a farce in the name of conducting local government elections.
The PDP alleged that the ruling party, through the state electoral commission, intentionally hoarded and misdirected election materials, enabling large-scale rigging efforts.
“Verified reports obtained from our agents and independent observers pinpoint a well-orchestrated rigging plan, which included the diversion of election materials, the late arrival of insufficient ballot papers without standard serial numbers, and missing 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.
“In Calabar South, Municipality, Obudu, Abi, and Obubra in particular, election materials meant for the entire local governments were diverted to the houses of APC stalwarts, where thumb printing was brazenly carried out.
“For instance, in Obudu, no single election material was issued to anyone except the APC, which took custody and carted them away to the Military School in Bedia, where soldiers cordoned off everyone except APC members.
“Again, in Obanlikwu and Bekwarra local government areas, where ballot papers were distributed, no single result sheet accompanied them, and results were written on ordinary papers,” the PDP detailed.
The PDP has condemned the entire election process and rejected all results stemming from it, asserting that there was effectively no legitimate local government election conducted in Cross River State.
The party urged its members to remain peaceful and assured them that it would seek legal redress to contest the outcome.
“We urge all our members to remain calm and peaceful, as the party shall pursue the outcome in a competent court of law.
“It is high time we put an end to attempts to deprive the citizens of their legitimate rights to elect who leads them at the local government level,” Ikem concluded.
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