YPP warns against alleged plot to compromise A’Ibom guber poll

Akwa Ibom Young Progressives Party (YPP) has raised the alarm over alleged plot to rig this weekend’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

A statement by state chairman of the party, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, warned that any attempt to go against the will of the people would be resisted.

It cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against reenacting the poorly conducted presidential and National Assembly polls.

YPP, which claimed to have uncovered plot by the ruling party to allegedly connive with some INEC staff to compromise the exercise, urged security agencies to investigate the matter.

The statement reads: “We call on INEC not to toe this unholy path in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. The people of Akwa Ibom State want to participate in a free and fair contest to elect a candidate of their choice.

“As a political party with sound democratic background and rule of law, we insist on transparent election. INEC should not be a party to Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) desperation to win at all cost.

“We restate our position that election is not a do-or-die affair. Any party that cannot subject itself to the rule of fair play or allow its candidates to face the people in a keen contest squarely, should honourably pull out of the race rather than wanting to have the processes compromised. Let it be known that the people will resist any attempt to predetermine the outcome of the forthcoming election.

“We have implicit confidence that our governorship candidate, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA), will win the election on Saturday, March 11, 2023. We also expect that our candidates for the State House of Assembly will win in their respective constituencies.”

The party charged the Residential Electoral Commissioner (REC) to use his office to restore confidence of the public and political parties in the forthcoming polls.

“We equally send a passionate appeal to the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Directorate of Defence Intelligence (DMI), international observers and embassies in Nigeria to take curious interest in Akwa lbom State to checkmate the reported alliance between INEC and the PDP. Accordingly, thorough investigations should be carried out and perpetrators brought to book,” YPP appealed.