Akwa Ibom Liberation Movement (AILM) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order security agencies to protect INEC staff and facilities from being burnt down or destroyed by supporters of politicians who are not satisfied with the outcome of the last Saturday’s elections.
The leader of the group, Prince Emmanuel Sam, in a statement made available to newsmen, said it was rather unfortunate that people who looked for political offices and lost, could not exhibit statesmen’s character in a contest they lost.
The group, while urging Akwa Ibom people to remain calm, appealed to the president to ensure no harm is done to any INEC facilities to forestall postponement of the forthcoming governorship elections in the state.
“Your Excellency, we are sad and disappointed that even though elections were free and fair the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State boldly tell INEC that the force can not guarantee security for the announcement of Senatorial District results in Ikot Ekpene.
“This threat portends clear danger to INEC staff and electorate who must go out to exercise their civic responsibility on March 9, 2019. Accordingly, we pray that you impress upon the rank and file of the large contingent of Police, Army, DSS and Civil Defence Corps deployed to the state for the purpose of this election, to eschew partisanship and focus on their constitutional obligation of ensuring peace during and after the elections.
“Your Excellency, the international community is watching all the happenings across the country in this critical point in our nationhood. The United States of America through its Embassy has even threatened stiff sanctions against us if state actors instigate violence during the election.
“Consequently, we respectfully urge you to buttress your dignified stance against electoral malpractice and post election violence by directing the Acting Inspector General of Police and other securities agencies to work without preference to anyone or political party to forestall breakdown of law and order in the Akwa Ibom State during the March 9 elections.
“We expect the Police and the military to be nonpartisan and professional in handling this electoral process, knowing that the Electoral Act has clearly stipulated a legal means to address all grievances arising from election thus any person(s) with valid discontentment with the process can approach the election tribunal and not vent his/her frustration on innocent citizens or electoral officials.”
Read the letter bellow:
Akwa Ibom Liberation Movement (AILM)
Monday, February 25, 2019
PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR,
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
SOS: INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION, INEC, FACILITIES AND STAFF URGENTLY NEED PROTECTION TO CONTINUE CONDUCTING ELECTIONS IN AKWA IBOM STATE
It is with utmost sense of urgency that we bring to your notice threat posed to facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, by miscreants allegedly working for Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio. The information in public domain is that these miscreants are aiming to set INEC facility in Ikot Ekpene and other places ablaze. The plot which was purportedly hatched a few hours to the final collation of the election result for Ikot Ekpene senatorial, which did not favour the former senate minority leader, has been kept in view pending when the election result would be finally announced in Ikot Ekpene.
Collation and announcement of election results for the House of Representatives have been done across the 10 federal constituencies in the State. Similarly, results of election for the three senatorial seats have in public domain in accordance with the Electoral Act, since Sunday, a day after the election, but Akpabio has created a security situation that has made it impossible for the declaration of a winner for the election in his senatorial district (Akwa Ibom North West). Ordinarily, it is expected that politicians should show the spirit of sportsmanship in election where losers congratulate winners and vice versa. Hence, it is shocking to learn that some supporters and miscreants working for Senator Godswill Akpabio, are targeting INEC offices and staff across the state after the presidential and national assembly elections and ahead of the governorship and state house of assembly elections, because the outcome of the election did not favour their benefactor.
What has happened in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North West) between February 23rd and 26th was directly contravening your stern order to the military and other security agencies against ballot box snatchers and other election riggers. Apparently, the Police and Army deployed to provide necessary security for INEC in Akwa Ibom State, in the eyes of many Akwa Ibomites, are not doing enough to execute your direct order. We urge the Nigeria Police Force to protect INEC facilities and its staff to ensure that the commission completes its lawful assignment in Akwa Ibom State.
May we place on record that the last time Akwa Ibom State had free, fair and credible elections as recorded in the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State was in 2007 when Arc. Obong Victor Attah was the Governor. When Akpabio took over the helm of affairs as Governor, he never conducted a single free and fair election. Akpabio that we know believes in outrightly allocating votes to parties concern, without allowing the masses to queue and choose their leaders. In other words, Akpabio is allergic to free and fair elections, that was why he was roundly defeated.
Your Excellency, we are sad and disappointed that even though elections were free and fair the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State boldly tell INEC that the force can not guarantee security for the announcement of Senatorial District results in Ikot Ekpene.
This threat portends clear danger to INEC staff and electorate who must go out to exercise their civic responsibility on March 9, 2019. Accordingly, we pray that you impress upon the rank and file of the large contingent of Police, Army, DSS and Civil Defence Corps deployed to the state for the purpose of this election, to eschew partisanship and focus on their constitutional obligation of ensuring peace during and after the elections.
Your Excellency, the international community is watching all the happenings across the country in this critical point in our nationhood. The United States of America through its Embassy has even threatened stiff sanctions against us if state actors instigate violence during the election.
Consequently, we respectfully urge you to buttress your dignified stance against electoral malpractice and post election violence by directing the Acting Inspector General of Police and other securities agencies to work without preference to anyone or political party to forestall breakdown of law and order in the Akwa Ibom State during the March 9 elections.
We expect the Police and the military to be nonpartisan and professional in handling this electoral process, knowing that the Electoral Act has clearly stipulated a legal means to address all grievances arising from election thus any person(s) with valid discontentment with the process can approach the election tribunal and not vent his/her frustration on innocent citizens or electoral officials.
We do not wish the widely adjudged free and fair election to be marred by post election violence arising from Akpabio’s inability to handle his defeat. Across the country many politicians have lost election without resorting to drumming the drums of violence.
We trust that you will give urgent attention to our petition and direct security agencies to ensure peaceful and orderly conduct of the election in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and the entire state.
Finally, we congratulate you Mr. President on your reelection.
Please accept our best regards.
Thank you, Your Excellency.
Signed
Prince Emmanuel Sam,
Leader of the Movement
