By Archibong Jeremiah, TheInvestigator
In the run-up to Cross River State’s November 2, 2024, local government elections, a series of infractions and a lack of adherence to electoral guidelines have cast a shadow over the integrity of the process.
From top political figures down to rank-and-file supporters, evidence points to violations of campaign regulations that have left residents and observers questioning whether the rules meant to protect the fairness of elections are being adequately enforced.
The guidelines set forth by the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) are explicit: campaigns must be confined within the respective constituencies, wards, or local governments of the candidates, and public spaces such as government offices, schools, places of worship, and police or military barracks are strictly off-limits. Yet, examples of disregard for these rules were rampant during this campaign cycle.
The Nail In The Tyre And The Sign On The Gate
The story starts with an incident so common in Nigerian life and it might have gone unremarked—a nail puncturing the back tire of a motorcycle in transit. On this particular day, Nkim Oyama, a local cyclist, was conveying this reporter from the Ikom Police Division to Omuda Abang Crescent when the nail lodged itself into the back tyre of his motorcycle. It happened right outside the Cross River State Water Board Limited gate in Ikom, and while we waited for another means of transport, a startling observation revealed itself. The government office gate was plastered with campaign posters for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Akamkpa local government chairmanship, Mr Felix Akposi.
This overt political messaging on government property was in direct violation of Section 15 of CROSIEC’s election guidelines, which mandate that campaigning should only be conducted within the constituency in which the candidate is contesting. Additionally, the guidelines forbid the use of public offices for campaign purposes. Both of these provisions were ignored in this instance.
However, this wasn’t an isolated incident. Over the coming days, further investigation uncovered a similar pattern across other locations.
Influential Figures Caught In The Act
At the heart of the state’s educational system, Elder Esu E. Esu, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), also breached campaign guidelines. Esu was found to have erected a large billboard for the APC’s candidate for Calabar Municipality, Pastor James Anam, outside his office, a location that CROSIEC’s guidelines specifically prohibit.
Likewise, Mr Ubong Sam, Director General of the Cross River State Signage and Advertisement Agency (CRISSAA), erected a campaign billboard for the same candidate at the Calabar Municipality local government council office. This display of partisanship from high-ranking public officials, in defiance of Section 15, raises serious concerns about neutrality and ethical conduct within public institutions.
Even local council offices themselves became campaign grounds. The headquarters of Biase local government was adorned with posters for APC chairmanship candidate Mr. Edodi Eyong and his ward councilor running mate Mr. Edwin Ekpenyong.
Across Party Lines, Violations Persist
In Akamkpa local government area, disregard for electoral guidelines wasn’t limited to the APC. Campaign billboards for both the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were also on full display. The APC had the largest share, with over five campaign billboards, while the LP and PDP had two and one, respectively. Despite the strict CROSIEC rules, all parties seemed eager to flout them.
The visible placements of these materials suggest a calculated risk by each party, banking on the assumption that CROSIEC’s enforcement would be lenient or nonexistent.
Anthony Attah Bisong, State Chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and former chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), admitted that no party’s hands were clean. In a candid interview with TheInvestigator, Bisong acknowledged the widespread violations, calling them a “lesser evil” compared to more serious concerns about electoral irregularities, like ballot-box snatching.
“It appears that every political party is a victim of that scenario; all of us are guilty,” Bisong said, confessing that his party had placed campaign billboards in locations that might contravene the guidelines. However, he tempered his criticism by urging the focus to shift toward the alleged ballot snatching and manipulation that, according to him, had marred the election far more severely.
Advocacy For Transparency And Compliance
One voice calling for more stringent compliance was that of Ukeme-Obong Albert Ekong from “We The People,” an NGO focused on transparency and accountability. Ekong, who closely monitored the election, expressed dismay at the disregard for the CROSIEC guidelines. Speaking with TheInvestigator, she warned that the cumulative effect of these minor infractions could be corrosive to public trust and the integrity of the electoral process.
“Many things went wrong,” she said. “Politicians rarely read and adhere to the stipulated guidelines during elections, and this lack of compliance has impacted the outcome. We should be guided by these rules to ensure a fair and transparent process.”
Ekong’s NGO is one of several calling for more robust enforcement mechanisms and accountability measures. “If parties continue to disregard these guidelines, it sends a message that rules don’t matter,” she added, admonishing both the political class and the electorate to respect the regulatory framework.
This local government election in Cross River State exposes a troubling culture where adherence to electoral laws is seen as optional. From ordinary citizens to public officials, many involved in the campaign process seemed unbothered by regulations meant to create a level playing field. While violations like these are not unique to Cross River State, the frequency and visibility of infractions in this election have made it a focal point for discussing how Nigeria conducts its democratic processes at the grassroots level.
For now, questions remain about whether any sanctions will follow these flagrant breaches. CROSIEC is yet to issue a public statement, and if history is any guide, penalties may be slow to arrive—if they do at all.
This report was published with the support of Civic Media Lab.
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