Rerun Election 50 Times, I Will Still Win – Sacked Cross River Lawmaker, Eteng Williams

By Archibong Jeremiah, House Of Assembly Correspondent

Sacked member of the Cross River State House of Assembly representing Yakurr 2 State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eteng Williams has said that even if the election is conducted fifty times, he was sure he will win again.

Hon. Eteng was sacked by the Appeal Court sitting in Calabar on Friday after the court held that Eteng, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation and doubles as a Special Adviser to the Speaker, got a back dated Certificate of Return from the Independent National Election Commission, INEC.

The court agreed with the petitioner’s argument that while “Elections were concluded in 55 per cent of the constituency on the 25th of April 2015, the Certificate of Return was issued on the 13th of April 2015.”

Justice Onyekachi Otisi, who delivered the ruling, said the tribunal agreed that the certificate of return was enough evidence in support of allegations of substantial non-compliance with the electoral act and the election manual and consequently nullified the election and ordered a rerun within 90 days.

The candidate of the Labor Party LP, Captain Eno Utim Inah, had proceeded to the Appeal Court after losing at the Tribunal.

But Hon. Eteng Jones, in a chat with CrossRiverWatch said he had no issues with the judgement but was already preparing for the rerun. He was optimistic of victory at the rerun.

According to him: “The judgement of the Appeal Court did not say I did not win the elections. The court only used the error in the date on the Certificate of Return from INEC to nullify the election. I know that even if elections are conducted in my constituency fifty times, I will win fifty times. So there is no cause to worry.

“I am already at home with my people preparing everyone for the rerun. We are law abiding citizens and we have accepted the judgement and are ready for the rerun anytime INEC is ready. There is no reason to worry at all. It is only another opportunity for us to prove that we are loved and appreciated by our people. That our people appreciate my representation in the years I have served them. So we are ready for a rerun.”