Tribunal: INEC chides Akwa Ibom APC over media campaign against Igini

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Akwa Ibom State
has chided the state chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, for
employing media campaign against the Resident Electoral
Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, in the ongoing election petitions
tribunal in the state.

The commission in a statement by its Public Affairs Officer, Mr.
Don Etukudo, wondered why the APC petitioners were busy playing the
victims card in the media instead of concentrating their energies
and resources in proving their cases at the tribunal.

It stated: “For some time now, INEC, Akwa Ibom State has refused
to be drawn into making comments or reacting to unbalanced
reportage of the proceedings of the election petition tribunal.

“Despite this resolve not to join issues with anyone, the
commission wishes to note that the Akwa Ibom State chapter of APC
and Senator Godswill Akpabio had since identified the REC, Mr.
Igini, as the man they must demonise if they are to win their cases
at the tribunal.

“First was that INEC was withholding election materials ordered
to be released to them by the tribunal. Now, it is that Igini
instructed the Collation Officer to cancel their votes in Essien
Udim Local Government Area of the state.

“If they were capable of reasoning, we would have advised that
rather than dissipate their energies in whining and waging a futile
media campaign against Igini, they should invest their exertions at
the tribunal where they can reclaim their mandate.”

The commission, which noted that it was aware that commenting on
matters that were currently being adjudicated upon was wrong,
regretted that media spaces were bought, while spurious audio and
video recordings were procured, doctored and splashed on social
media to promote this falsehood.

Subscribe ToNairalaw News!