INEC not in any unholy alliance, Akwa Ibom REC replies YPP, others

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa State, Dr. Cyril Omorogbe, has said INEC is not in any unholy alliance with any political party in the state.

He also said it is a display of ignorance for anyone to claim that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) preloaded Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), saying BVAS has nothing to do with election results as it is only used for accreditation of voters and taking of pictures of results at polling units.

He said the Commission is open to all political parties and to all stakeholders that want any clarification or information in respect of the elections.

Omorogbe, who spoke in an interview with The Guardian, advised that to achieve credible, fair, transparent governorship and state Assembly elections this Saturday, political parties in the state should not heat up the polity with fake information, fake speculations, and jumping to conclusions on issues they know nothing about but approach INEC for any clarifications.

The REC said the neutrality of INEC in the conduct of free, fair, credible and acceptable election on Saturday will not be compromised.

Omorogbe said for better polls, timeliness and to avoid mistakes, electoral materials will arrive councils across the state 48 hours to the commencement to the election.

He also refuted allegations that the commission deceived Nigerians with the use of BVAS, saying there will be improvement on Saturday elections.

The REC stressed that his doors are open to all political parties with questions or need clarification.

He said: “INEC is not having any special relationship with Governor Udom Emmanuel administration, neither is the Commission having any unholy alliance with any political party”.

There is nothing truthful about allegations by Young Progressives Party (YPP). If you look at Akwa Ibom State, three main political parties won different seats in the last presidential and National Assembly elections, including Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District won by Senator Godswill Akpabio of APC and the Ikot Ekpene Federal seat, won by APC and the YPP candidates in the Ini/Ikono Federal constituency.

Will they now say INEC is supporting the three different political parties that won? Politicians should not heat up the polity with fake information and speculations or jump to wrong conclusions on issues.

“Also, I want to tell you that INEC cannot preload BVAS. It is a display of ignorance if anybody is saying that. No one can preload BVAS because that no one knows the number of people coming out to vote.”