By Ushang Ewa
The last may not have been heard of the February 26th 2022, legislative by-elections held in two constituencies in Cross River State as the political parties continue to react.
While the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won the Akpabuyo State constituency by-election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner for that of the Ogoja/Yala federal constituency.
And, both parties say they will challenge the outcomes of the elections they lost in court with the PDP going further to release to journalists, some pictorial and video evidence to support its claim of rigging and other electoral malpractices.
The chairman of the PDP in the State, Venatius Ikem told journalists in Calabar on Tuesday that the party will challenge the outcome of the Ogoja/Yala by-election and will petition the Inspector General of Police over the use of special police units by state actors.
Barr. Ikem who insisted that the PDP won the elections, also said they will petition the Independent National Electoral Commission over the conduct of some of its personnel in the election supervision, monitoring, and management teams.
Meanwhile, the publicity secretary of the APC, Erasmus Ekpang in a statement issued on Tuesday said the party is rejecting the results of the elections in Akpabuyo citing irregularities and violence.
The APC, which insisted that it won the elections, said the PDP manipulated the results, hence, the announced figures were not a true reflection of the actual voting.
The release titled, “We will reclaim our mandate,” reads in full:
“The All Progressives Congress, has, after a detailed review of the Akpabuyo State constituency by-election, discovered the mind-boggling malpractice and electoral fraud perpetuated by the People’s Democratic Party.
“The party rejects, in its entirety, the outcome of the February 26th, 2022 Akpabuyo State constituency by-election.
“The result as declared by INEC was not a true reflection of the actual voting.
“The APC will not allow declaration of the PDP candidate as winner of the election to stand.
“Brazen manipulation and distortion of figures by the PDP characterized the election, and we are primed to use legal means to correct this anomaly.
“Our great party will therefore be heading to the tribunal to reclaim the mandate clearly and freely given to our candidate, Bassey Ekpo.
W”e thank the people of Akpabuyo State constituency for overwhelmingly voting the APC during the election.
“The party urges its supporters and members in the constituency to remain calm while it explores legal means to retrieve our mandate.”
Signed
Erasmus Ekpang
Publicity Secretary
APC, Cross River State.