10th June, 2012
Obong Samuel Atang, a chairmanship candidate in Saturday’s local government elections in Akwa Ibom, has alleged widespread irregularities in the election.
Atang, a contestant of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket on Sunday that elections did not hold in most of the centres as voters waited endlessly for the materials to arrive.He said that he received several reports from the party agents that the reports had been lodged at Eket Police Division.“What went on in Eket was a clear indication that only persons of bad character can rule because there was no election.“All election materials in nearly all the voting centres were hijacked by the PDP, it imported thugs to cause confusion by smashing cars and destroying properties.“The materials ended up at a hotel on Marina road, so as far as I know there was no election,” Atang added.
Checks at the Eket Police Division showed that several incidents of violence were reported.
Reacting to the allegations, Eket Chapter Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that the elections were peaceful and orderly.
But in some of the centres visited in Eket, Esit Eket, Onna local government areas, prospective voters who turned up for the exercise waited till 3 p.m. the official closing time for the exercise.