ESSIEN UDIM RERUN: WHY IS AKPABIO SCARED OF MIKE IGINI?

Gabriel George

During an endorsement rally organized for him and the State governor by the people of his Senatorial District May last year, Godswill Akpabio told the audience to deemphasize the platform, because “Godswill will be done again and again irrespective of the political party”. Everyone was left with no choice than to go home with the memory verse that " Akpabio is a Superman, he can never lose in an election no matter how high the odds are".

This was a clue that the Jagaban of Ukana was going to exit his beloved PDP, though he denied consistently of nurturing such an anachronistic intention. While men tarried to behold the veracity of the matter, Akpabio disappointed his people by eating back his words. He left few days after he had refuted the allegations.

Because he assimilated into his new party, All Progressives Congress with his prime philosophy, " what money cannot do more money can do", Akpabio assumed he would get a returned ticket to the National Assembly with his financial aide. The day he realized he was basking in the euphoria of dereliction was the day he nicodemusly smuggled into Barr. Mike Igini's office in the name of a 'familiarization visit'. Not only that the Akwa Ibom State INEC REC repudiated his offer ( hundreds of millions of naira), he disclosed to him stating, " I didn't come to Akwa Ibom State to count money, I came to count votes".

Though Akpabio felt distressed seeing his financial gifting being rejected for the first time, he was left with no choice than to leave the office.

The former Senate Minority Leader after being consoled and gingered by the people around him, was played into believing that Barr. Igini was only simulating, that if approached again, he would accept the offer or probably, a more weighty offer. Akpabio summoned fortitude, sent emissaries to the REC, but the second attempt turned out so ruinous as he was dismissed from the office without an iota of deference. He left, sending people to find any possible avenue where Igini could be compromised, but it didn't augur well for them as their efforts met the frustration of the highest peak by the INEC Boss. "I dont know why some politicians are asking me to come and have a meeting with them in Dubai, when I have a large office at the INEC state headquarters that people can easily meet with me".

About a week before the National Assembly election, Akpabio discovered that even with his accrued wealth, he was not on ground which automatically denotes him losing at the poll if election is freely and fairly conducted. Akpabio sorted for all possible avenue where the INEC REC could be redeployed. They wailed incessantly using their available resources and Abuja connections, but all to no avail. To their bewilderment, some International Organizations, INEC RECs including the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had confessed that with Igini being in charge of Akwa Ibom elections, they would sleep with their eyes closed knowing too well that he'll conduct free, fair and credible elections. Just as expected, the election was conducted ethically without an iota of preference on any party. Akpabio lost woefully, and not even his supporters could say that the Akwa Ibom INEC REC rigged the election.

Akpabio after he had lost at the poll ventured into an unstoppable media war against the Akwa Ibom INEC REC. The N10,000 weekly data fee made available to his social media hirelings was only capable to rain insults and abuses on the INEC REC, but was entirely impotent to obliterate the election's outcome. This act was like a child's play. You could imagine why one with such magnitude would reduce himself so low to that level.

Just last week Saturday, the Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar had ordered a rerun election in Essien Udim Local Government Area. This was in consonance with INEC's position that the National Assembly election in Essien Udim Local Government Area was marred by intense irregularities, malpractices, hijacked of sensitive electoral materials, massive rigging, abduction of INEC officials as well as molestation of election International and Local Observers as perpetrated by Akpabio's men. The ruling was contrary to Akpabio's request that he be declared the winner of the election as a result of a fictitious 61,329 votes he claimed he scored in Essien Udim local government area alone.

The rerun election according to the Court, is billed to take place within the space of 90days, with Sen. Akpabio having to resign from his position as the Minister, Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as regulated by the Law, one month to the elections. Rather than map out strategies that would enhance his triumph at the poll as expected conventionally, he has again, summed up courage, campaigning for the redeployment of the State INEC REC before the election.

The question now is, after postulating their analysis of how they will emerge victorious, why are they still scared of Mike Igini conducting the rerun election in Essien Udim Local Government Area? The truth is that Igini will insist on card reader accreditation of voters, and the alleged bogus voters cards purchased by the APC would be useless as was the case in the February and March elections.

With the reoccurrence of this wild goose chase scenario by Akpabio's men in APC, one could possibly deduce that Sen. Akpabio has never won in a free and fair election before. He lost woefully in his first participated free and fair election which was conducted by Mike Igini in February 23rd 2019. He is scared that if Igini should conduct the rerun, he will surely lose again because even with a bunker filled with dollars to the brim, Igini would not still accept to perpetuate corrupt practices. " As a man thinketh". The statement by his campaign manager Chris Akpan, sums it all, "with Igini as helmsman of INEC, Akpabio has no chances of capturing the so called 61,329 votes."

Naturally, Akpabio has a phobia for free and fair elections. He should rather come out open than using Mike Igini as an excuse for his impending failure. He should know that the truth is already in the fore, and no campaign of blackmail and window dressing can dent it.

AlhajiUmani:
ESSIEN UDIM RERUN: WHY IS AKPABIO SCARED OF MIKE IGINI?

Gabriel George

During an endorsement rally organized for him and the State governor by the people of his Senatorial District May last year, Godswill Akpabio told the audience to deemphasize the platform, because “Godswill will be done again and again irrespective of the political party”. Everyone was left with no choice than to go home with the memory verse that " Akpabio is a Superman, he can never lose in an election no matter how high the odds are".

This was a clue that the Jagaban of Ukana was going to exit his beloved PDP, though he denied consistently of nurturing such an anachronistic intention. While men tarried to behold the veracity of the matter, Akpabio disappointed his people by eating back his words. He left few days after he had refuted the allegations.

Because he assimilated into his new party, All Progressives Congress with his prime philosophy, " what money cannot do more money can do", Akpabio assumed he would get a returned ticket to the National Assembly with his financial aide. The day he realized he was basking in the euphoria of dereliction was the day he nicodemusly smuggled into Barr. Mike Igini's office in the name of a 'familiarization visit'. Not only that the Akwa Ibom State INEC REC repudiated his offer ( hundreds of millions of naira), he disclosed to him stating, " I didn't come to Akwa Ibom State to count money, I came to count votes".

Though Akpabio felt distressed seeing his financial gifting being rejected for the first time, he was left with no choice than to leave the office.

The former Senate Minority Leader after being consoled and gingered by the people around him, was played into believing that Barr. Igini was only simulating, that if approached again, he would accept the offer or probably, a more weighty offer. Akpabio summoned fortitude, sent emissaries to the REC, but the second attempt turned out so ruinous as he was dismissed from the office without an iota of deference. He left, sending people to find any possible avenue where Igini could be compromised, but it didn't augur well for them as their efforts met the frustration of the highest peak by the INEC Boss. "I dont know why some politicians are asking me to come and have a meeting with them in Dubai, when I have a large office at the INEC state headquarters that people can easily meet with me".

About a week before the National Assembly election, Akpabio discovered that even with his accrued wealth, he was not on ground which automatically denotes him losing at the poll if election is freely and fairly conducted. Akpabio sorted for all possible avenue where the INEC REC could be redeployed. They wailed incessantly using their available resources and Abuja connections, but all to no avail. To their bewilderment, some International Organizations, INEC RECs including the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had confessed that with Igini being in charge of Akwa Ibom elections, they would sleep with their eyes closed knowing too well that he'll conduct free, fair and credible elections. Just as expected, the election was conducted ethically without an iota of preference on any party. Akpabio lost woefully, and not even his supporters could say that the Akwa Ibom INEC REC rigged the election.

Akpabio after he had lost at the poll ventured into an unstoppable media war against the Akwa Ibom INEC REC. The N10,000 weekly data fee made available to his social media hirelings was only capable to rain insults and abuses on the INEC REC, but was entirely impotent to obliterate the election's outcome. This act was like a child's play. You could imagine why one with such magnitude would reduce himself so low to that level.

Just last week Saturday, the Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar had ordered a rerun election in Essien Udim Local Government Area. This was in consonance with INEC's position that the National Assembly election in Essien Udim Local Government Area was marred by intense irregularities, malpractices, hijacked of sensitive electoral materials, massive rigging, abduction of INEC officials as well as molestation of election International and Local Observers as perpetrated by Akpabio's men. The ruling was contrary to Akpabio's request that he be declared the winner of the election as a result of a fictitious 61,329 votes he claimed he scored in Essien Udim local government area alone.

The rerun election according to the Court, is billed to take place within the space of 90days, with Sen. Akpabio having to resign from his position as the Minister, Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as regulated by the Law, one month to the elections. Rather than map out strategies that would enhance his triumph at the poll as expected conventionally, he has again, summed up courage, campaigning for the redeployment of the State INEC REC before the election.

The question now is, after postulating their analysis of how they will emerge victorious, why are they still scared of Mike Igini conducting the rerun election in Essien Udim Local Government Area? The truth is that Igini will insist on card reader accreditation of voters, and the alleged bogus voters cards purchased by the APC would be useless as was the case in the February and March elections.

With the reoccurrence of this wild goose chase scenario by Akpabio's men in APC, one could possibly deduce that Sen. Akpabio has never won in a free and fair election before. He lost woefully in his first participated free and fair election which was conducted by Mike Igini in February 23rd 2019. He is scared that if Igini should conduct the rerun, he will surely lose again because even with a bunker filled with dollars to the brim, Igini would not still accept to perpetuate corrupt practices. " As a man thinketh". The statement by his campaign manager Chris Akpan, sums it all, "with Igini as helmsman of INEC, Akpabio has no chances of capturing the so called 61,329 votes."

Naturally, Akpabio has a phobia for free and fair elections. He should rather come out open than using Mike Igini as an excuse for his impending failure. He should know that the truth is already in the fore, and no campaign of blackmail and window dressing can dent it.

Akpabio na kony man

Okay..