One of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State, Barr. Mfon Udeme Peter, has rejected the outcome of the party’s just-concluded primary election, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement, manipulation and electoral malpractice.
The primary election committee chairman, Titus Ejoor, had announced in Uyo that former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, emerged winner with 66,099 votes, while Peter polled 103 votes in the direct primary conducted across the 31 local government areas of the state on May 22.
But reacting in a chat with journalists, Peter dismissed the result as “concocted,” insisting that it did not reflect the will of party members.
“Sincerely, I reject that result in its entirety. That result is completely false, and I reject it with all that I have. It is completely concocted,” he said.
He alleged that he was effectively excluded from the process, claiming that elections were not properly conducted in several local government areas.
“I was with the ADC primary election committee at 6 PM on Friday. By 7 PM, they told me they were in my ward. I arrived at my ward in Ibiono Ibom and saw them. At what time were they able to conduct elections in the 349 wards in Akwa Ibom State and in 31 local government areas?” he asked.
Peter further alleged that large numbers of party members were denied the opportunity to vote, claiming that election schedules were altered without proper communication to stakeholders.
“Apart from the fact that elections were not conducted in more than 20 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, they rescheduled the election for Saturday, May 23, without informing me or my supporters,” he said.
He questioned the legitimacy of the process, adding that neither he nor his agents signed any result sheets.
“I ought to have known that the election would also hold on Saturday… I wasn’t in the field, my supporters were not in the field, but the election results were published. That is why I reject the results. None of my agents signed those result sheets because I was completely excluded,” he stated.
Peter also accused party officials of failing to follow the ADC guidelines on accreditation and voting procedures, insisting that the process was compromised from the outset.
“There was no election in Oron and in the entire Eket senatorial district… The party guidelines state that accreditation starts at 8 AM and ends at 12 noon… Ask him (Akpanudoedehe), when did the election commence?” he queried.
He alleged that officials ignored established procedures and carried out a flawed exercise designed to favour his opponent.
“It means that, from day one, ab initio, the election was fraudulent. And it cannot stand,” he added.
Peter said he has already filed a petition before the party’s governorship election appeal committee and urged the leadership of the ADC to nullify the exercise and order a fresh primary.
“I know that the Appeal Committee, when they look at the facts and evidence before them, will have no other option but to nullify the election so that we can go back to the polls,” he said, warning that he would approach the courts if his grievances are not addressed.
