A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Ekpeyong Ekpeyong has told the National Assembly tribunal sitting in Abuja how the former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio allegedly rigged elections in the state.Ekpeyong, who is from Obot Akara local government area of the state appeared before Justice Goddy Anunihu led national and state houses of assembly election petition panel with respect to the Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara state constituency seat between Barrister Austin Mbeh of the APC and Idongesit Ntekpere of the Peoples Democratic Party, Daily Post reports.
According to Ekpeyong, Akpabio orchestrated series of state sponsored violence in 2011 and only worsened the spate in 2015.
He alleged that the state House of Assembly elections were massively rigged while perceived political opponents were killed, kidnapped and attacked by political thugs.
Ekpeyong further stated that Akpabio carried out the actions in collaboration with Monday Uko, a former council chairman and currently serving commissioner in the Udom led administration in the state.
However, counsel to the PDP, Barrister Uyobong attempted to stop Ekpeyong from going on with the testimony but was overruled by the tribunal.
The witness told the tribunal how Akpabio and the commissioner allegedly hijacked ballot boxes and stuffed them with multiple thumb printed ballot papers.
Speaking further, Ekpenyong added that the former governor had sent him and others on political exile since 2011 and as such he was not allowed to enter his hometown to vote.
He said: “On April 11, 2015, immediately after accreditation, armed thugs stormed his unit and Ward and hijacked all electoral materials as well as kidnapped INEC staff on election duty.”
Ekpeyong said that Akpabio had given an order to political thugs in 2011 to assassinate him when he was about to be given a flag by the then ACN governorship candidate in the state, Senator J. J. Udoedeghe to contest the Ikot Ekpene/ Obot Akara/ Essien Udim House of Representatives seat.
He said: “My Lord, they unleashed great mayhem on the rally ground, killed so many people in Ikot Ekpene and Uyo but God saved me and Udoedeghe while several others were not so lucky. It was the same violence of 2011 that was unleashed on April 11, only that this time, it was worse.”
Meanwhile, there were revelations as regards the intrigues behind the scene that saw the emergence of Akpabio as the Senate minority leader. This revelation was made by a former member of the House of Representatives, Femi Onimole, who explained that it was important to ensure fairness and federal character in the house.
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