- APC: We’re Not Aware of INEC Position on Candidate Swapping… Akpabio Not Contesting
- You Can’t Swap Candidate Now, Says INEC
- Give No Room For ‘Underhand Trick, Manipulation’, Buhari Tells INEC Chairman, IGP
By Akanimo Kufre (Akwa Ibom; Cross River States Correspondent of The New Diplomat)
As the January 25, 2020 rerun elections in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and 27 other constituencies nationwide draw close, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Akwa Ibom is already talking tough. The party asked Senator Godswill Akpabio who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election not to chicken out ahead of the contest.
The PDP spokesman in Akwa Ibom State, Bar Ini Ememobong while speaking on the upcoming poll challenged the former governor and current Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to come out and test his popularity.
“There will be an opposition candidate willingly or unwillingly. He (Akpabio) is the candidate for their party and he cannot withdraw. We will hold a meeting next week and address the election rerun,” Ememobong said.
Recall Senator Akpabio on 2nd of December 2018 had written a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicating his withdrawal from the election and called for the electoral body to accept a substituted candidate for All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2020 rerun.
A reliable source in INEC however confirms that APC candidate swap for Akpabio was late and no swap can be accepted as the deadline for such has elapsed.
Also, The New Diplomat had reported that INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, said all the parties and candidates that filed valid nominations and contested the senatorial election during last general poll will be on the ballot for the rerun election in Essien Udim Local Government Area. He also said the deadline for the replacement of candidates had since elapsed.
In Okoye’s words: “In the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2019 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission fixed November 17, 2019 as the last day for substitution and/or withdrawal of candidates by political parties in accordance with Section 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).
“The date and period for the nomination and substitution of candidates has elapsed and no political party can withdraw or substitute its candidate or nominate or introduce a new candidate in the re-run election.
The ramification of the INEC’s stance is that if Akpabio fails to contest in the election, his party, the APC will have no candidate to stand in the election.
In spite of INEC’s position on the deadline for the swapping of candidates, the Akwa Ibom APC has said the party in the state is not aware of such deadline. The party also noted Akpabio will not be contesting in the election, saying the name of the candidate that was swapped for him has been sent to INEC.
“We are not aware of that for now (elapse of dateline to swap candidate), the party has not been officially informed about on the INEC decision. We are still waiting to hear from INEC.
“The party is prepared for the rerun and the Minister’s DG is on that, though the Minister is not contesting but we are sure the PDP candidate will be beaten during the election. For now am not the one to tell you the name of the candidate we substituted, INEC will tell you because the name was forwarded to INEC.” APC publicity secretary in Akwa Ibom, Mr Nkereuwem Enyongekere said.
Recall, for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, the election tribunal in Akwa Ibom had mandated INEC to conduct a rerun election only in Essien Udim LGA, where Akpabio has his country home. The LGA has 105,555 registered voters and 95,937 PVC collected.
The INEC had, while announcing the results of February 23rd senatorial election, declared Mr. Ekpeyong Chris Ekpenyong who scored 118,215 votes winner as Akpabio secured 83,158 votes.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, told INEC to ensure that the game was played according to the rules, without fear or favour.
He told the INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu not to give room for any “underhand trick and manipulation” that will lead to the rigging of the upcoming polls by any political party in the country.
“Those that you declare as winners must be the candidates that the people have chosen. Democracy is about free will, and the will of the people must be allowed to prevail. Get your acts right, and leave no room for underhand tricks or manipulation,” the President said.
