Election 2019: Police report vindicates Akwa Ibom people, says AILM

A police report adjudging the Akwa Ibom
state governorship and state assembly
eections as free and fair continues to
generate reactions
- A group in the state, Akwa Ibom Liberation
Movement (AILM) says the police report has
vindicated Akwa Ibom people
- The group also blamed the APC for the
pockets of violence experienced in some
polling units in the state during the
elections
A pressure group, the Akwa Ibom
Liberation Movement (AILM) says the
police report on the governorship and
state assembly elections in the state has
vindicated Akwa Ibom people.
The report submitted to the Deputy
Inspector General of Police in charge of
the Department of Operations, had stated
that the election was peaceful, free, fair
and credible.
The group blamed the All Progressives
Congress (APC) for the pockets of
violence that was experienced in some
polling units in the state during the
elections, disclosing that the APC
primaries in the state was marred by
violence in Uruan, Etim Ekpo and some
other local government areas.
AILM alleged that, “APC leaders in the
state were boasting that the commissioner
of police was sent specifically to ensure
that APC captured the state and also to
intimidate, arrest of key PDP stakeholders
in the state so that they will take over
through the federal might.”
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“But the Akwa Ibom people openly retired
them from politics, through their massive
vote for the PDP, now they are boasting of
their connections in the judiciary, planning
to change the wishes of the people through
the tribunal,” the group's leader, Prince
Emmanuel Sam said.
Speaking with journalists in his office in
Uyo on Wednesday, April 10, Prince Sam
said despite the machinations of the APC,
“the people of Akwa Ibom state refused to
be intimidated; they went out and freely
exercised their civic responsibility and
also defended their votes.”
He noted that the people voted massively
to return the PDP candidates, Governor
Udom Emmanuel and all the National
Assembly and State Assembly candidates.
The election according to him, was
adjudged by international foreign
observers as well as the media as the
freest and fairest if not the most credible
election of the entire 2019 elections.
Prince Emmanuel Sam urged judges in
the tribunal to do their best to adjudicate
the election matters on merit,
emphasizing that the judges have a
legacy to protect and most importantly
their names after retirement.
He said the report by the Akwa Ibom
commissioner of police has confirmed
the positions of the international
observers and the Nigerian and
international press, “thus rendering bare
and without foundation the claims by the
APC that the elections were marred by
violence and irregularities.”
Meanwhile, Governor Kayode Fayemi of
Ekiti state has congratulated his Akwa
Ibom state counterpart, Mr. Udom
Emmanuel, on his electoral victory.
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Governor Fayemi's congratulatory
message was sent via a letter to the Akwa
Ibom state governor dated Sunday,
March 14.
The Ekiti governor hailed Governor
Emmanuel, saying his victory is “an
affirmation and reward for your previous
performance by your people.”