Senator Adams Oshiomhole has been teased by Senate President Godswill Akpabio for securing only one local government area for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent Akwa Ibom State local government elections.
Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North senatorial district, made the remark during a plenary session while advocating for reforms in local government elections to prevent the ruling party from dominating all elective positions.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Akpabio’s hometown, Essien Udim Local Government Area, was the only area where the APC emerged victorious, amidst controversy.
The Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) declared the APC winner in the local government area, but a viral video showed the Returning Officer, Professor Inyang Ating, declaring PDP’s Enobong Patrick as the winner.
Ating declared, “I hereby certify that I was the Returning Officer for the election held on the 5th of October 2024. The election was contested, and the candidates received the following votes: Hon. Ntiedo Usoro of the APC: 686 votes; Engr. Enobong Patrick Friday of the PDP: 55,612 votes.”
“Engr. Enobong Patrick Friday, having complied with the requirements of the law and having scored the majority of votes, is hereby declared elected. He also received more than 25% of the votes in all 13 wards of Essien Udim. I so declare, and I hereby sign as the Returning Officer,” he added.
Notedly, the PDP won all other local government areas except Essien Udim, according to AKISIEC’s chairman, Aniedi Ikoiwak.
“Even if you create another INEC, the character issue remains the same: the idea that I must take everything, that I must take all by hook or crook—nothing is going to change.” – Senator Adams Oshiomhole on the difficulties of solving the issue of LG elections. pic.twitter.com/LGW7weQvtd
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) October 10, 2024