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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party in Cross River State, has condemned last weekend’s local government elections as a “monumental fraud” unprecedented in the state’s political history.
In a statement released in Calabar and signed by the party’s state chairman, Mr. Venatius Ikem, the PDP said: “The fact that voters witnessed this kind of monumental election fraud on Saturday is a sign of political crisis in Cross River State. We boldly state that this has never happened before.”
Mr. Ikem accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the electoral process from the beginning to secure its advantage.
He claimed that the composition of the Election Commission was biased, with close aides of government officials appointed to carry out the ruling party’s policies.
Mr Ikem criticized the electoral process as a “farce”, claiming that the Independent Electoral Commission was orchestrating a farce in the name of holding local government elections.
The PDP alleged that the ruling party deliberately hoarded and misguided election materials through the State Election Commission, enabling large-scale fraud.
“Verified reports obtained from our agents and independent monitors reveal detailed reports, including diversion of election materials, late arrival of insufficient ballots without standard serial numbers, and missing result sheets. accurately depicts the collusive scheme planned.
“Also, most polling stations did not provide official CROSIEC stamps for the presiding officer to stamp the ballot after it was signed for authentication, as required by law.
“In Calabar South City, Obudu City, Abi City and Obubra City in particular, election materials intended for the entire local government were diverted to the homes of APC supporters where their thumbprinting was brazenly done.
“For example, in Obudu, no election materials were issued to non-APC members, and the APC detained them and took them to the military school in Bedia, where soldiers sealed off everyone except APC members.
“Again, in Obanlikwu and Bekwara local government areas where ballot papers were distributed, no result paper was attached and the results were written on plain paper,” PDP detailed.
The PDP condemned the entire electoral process and rejected all results that arose from it, claiming that in effect there were no legitimate local government elections held in Cross River State.
The party urged its members to remain peaceful and promised to seek legal redress to contest the results.
“We urge all party members to remain calm and peaceful as the party pursues results in competent courts.
“The time has come to end attempts to deprive citizens of their legitimate right to choose who will lead them at the local government level,” Ichem concluded.
