* LG boss, House of Assembly member, others arrested
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The re-run elections conducted today, Saturday February 3, 2024 in 33 polling units in three local government areas of Ikono Ini and Ibiono Ibom, Akwa Ibom State were not without skirmishes as sensitive materials meant for the excercise were diverted to unauthorized centres in the affected units.
Report from the field showed that the Transition Committee Chairman of Ini Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Inibehe Umah has been arrested by the security agencies for allegedly carting away election materials in the state.
Also arrested, are; the sitting House of Assembly member for Ini State Constituency, Hon. Lawrence Udo Ide and the immediate past state lawmaker from the area, Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong.
A Young Progressives Party (YPP) chieftain, who spoke under anonymity, disclosed this to newsmen who monitored the election in the area, saying, the trio are chieftains of the PDP who wanted to rig the election by all means necessary in favour of their party.
The Transition Chairman, the House member and former were said to have colluded with thugs and carted away the election materials meant for Saturday’s exercise in Ini Local Government Ward 5, Unit 3 and Ward 6, Unit 3 in those wards.
According to him, “the materials were diverted by thugs working for PDP to Ibam Ukot in Ini LGA”.
Meanwhile, the by-election monitored in Ikono Local Government Area Ward 11, Units 1, 2 and 14 (Holy Child Primary School) and Nung Udoe Itak Community Hall was peaceful at at the time of filling this report with heavy voters turnout in all the centers.
Although, the election did not start by the initial 7:30am given by INEC due to some delay arising from logistics problem, voters were on hand as early as 7:00am to cast their votes.
The by- election, which had been conducted before in 2023 but cancelled due to irregularities, is between the serving House of Representatives member for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency on the platform of Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Dr. Glory Edet of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Over 2,000 security personnel including the Nigerian Army, Police, NSCDC, EFCC amongst others were drafted to monitor the election in thirty three Units in the two local governments.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Borono Bassey could not be reached for comments over the arrested PDP chieftains caught for thuggery.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Odiko Macdon could not respond to phone calls or text messages to his cell phone as at this report was filled.
However, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekum announced suspension of elections in two polling units (Village Hall, Edem Urua 003 in Ini LGA and Village Hall Mbiabong Ikot Udo 003 in Ikono LGA) where all elections materials were carted away by hoodlums.
Olumekum announced it in a statement issued today, Saturday and made available to newsmen.
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