By: Our Reporter, Calabar
The Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Prince Eka Williams, has described the marginal victory of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in Ikom local government area of Cross River State as a pyrrhic victory that cannot withstand legal scrutiny.
He stated this while speaking to newsmen shortly after the exercise.
Prince Williams pointed out that massive irregularities took place in the two wards of Ofutop and some polling units in Ikom Urban that led to INEC erroneously declaring the PDP as winner in the election.
He recounted how his efforts, together with Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba led to the massive victory of the APC in Akparabong Ward, in spite of the fact that the PDP House of Assembly candidate comes from the ward.
According to him, “we were able to dismantle Prof. Sandy Onor’s and PDP’s rigging machinery led by Hon. Jones Tangban and Hon. Lawrence Takon. They compromise INEC officials and attempted to hide electoral materials but we caught them and insisted that the elections must be held in accordance with the laws and rules and we defeated them roundly in Akparabong Ward.”
Continuing, he said that “the PDP massively rigged in Ofutop 1 and 2 and compromised the election in parts of Urban ward. Even with all these, they could only achieve a small win margin of a paltry 35 votes in House of Assembly elections which will certainly be overturned if legally scrutinized in line with the provisions of the Electoral Law. We shall meet them in court to challenge this victory. It cannot stand. Comrade Agbor Bassey will reclaim his victory in court.”
Prince Eka Williams added that the people of Akparabong Ward had long stated their preference to have the chairmanship of Ikom and not the House of Assembly and expressed his confidence that the wishes of the people will be granted in due time.
