The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Akwa Ibom state, Barr. Mike Igini has dismissed the rumour that materials used for the just-concluded general elections in Akwa Ibom state have been destroyed.
He stressed that the commission would make all the materials available to both petitioners and the respondents when needed at the tribunal.
Igini, who stated this on Thursday at the commission’s headquarters, Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo while issuing certificates of return to elected candidates for the governorship/state house of Assembly elections in the state, expressed readiness to defend ‘the returns’ at the tribunal.
According to him, “No election materials used in the just concluded election was destroyed as has been alleged mischievously. No institution or electoral body with a veneer of integrity would shy away from giving account of how it made returns when called upon to do so.
“As an impartial umpire and as a commission that conducted the election professionally, we are ready and willing to give account of how returns were made in the election.
“May l assure both petitioners and respondents of our co-operation in availing all parties with relevant certified true copies of documents required to pursue your matters in the Tribunal.”
Igini, who had barely served one year seven months in Akwa Ibom state, reiterated that elections in Akwa Ibom were conducted without fear, bias or favour to any political party as he had promised when he came to the state.
“On my arrival to this state on the 5th of September, 2017, the political parties chairmen/secretaries were the very first stakeholder group that l met and l unveiled a mission to conduct a free, fair and credible election by providing equal opportunity to all parties. They regaled their past experiences and dissatisfaction over how elections have been conducted in this state and sought to know if the 2019 election would be different.
“l made an unequivocal commitment that, under God in this state, in 2019, the General elections would be conducted and that ballot papers and result sheets would be delivered to every polling unit, to be audited by party agents before the commencement of the poll.
“Many dismissed my message of free, fair and credible election and had other plans of winning elections, while others took my message seriously and took their case to the electorate who only can confer authority on contestants. Today, we now know better those who took our promise of integrity driven electoral process seriously.”
The REC recalled the attacks and petitions against him in the build up to the elections orchestrated by some politicians who were not comfortable with his stand in the commission.
“In preparing the state for the elections, particularly few weeks to the election, so many contrived problems were put on our way essentially to sabotage our efforts to fulfil our promise to the people of Akwa Ibom state. A number of politicians were unhappy with that pronouncement and commenced the campaign for my redeployment backed with the following innuendos and lies.
“That APC will not be allowed to win election in Akwa lbom. Not true That l have compromised with the PDP without stating the particulars of compromise. Not true That l held meetings with some notable politicians at Eket without stating the date and time. Not true That l delivered uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to the state Government without giving details when and quantity. Not true That the house l leave in Lagos long before my re-appointment in August 21st 2017 was purchased for me by the state government. Not true That l recruited card-carrying members of political parties as collation officer. Not true That my body language would not allow for a level-playing field That INEC is planning to destroy election materials because of tribunal.
“we never compromised or surrendered our values but rather we prayed to God who gave us the grace and courage of conviction to be true to them.
“Looking back at the outcome of the Presidential/National Assembly as well as the Governorship/State House of Assembly election in Akwa lbom state under my watch, we can say with every sense of modesty that the Independent National Electoral Commission worked so hard to bring meaning and purpose to the ballot system.”
Igini however urged those dissatisfied with the return to head to the elections petition tribunal, noting that they have the legal right to do so in accordance with the provision of section 133 of the Act.
