The Cross River PDP has rejected Saturday’s local government election results, citing widespread rigging and plans to challenge the outcome in court.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has formally rejected the results of the local government elections held on Saturday, citing extensive electoral irregularities and claiming the process was compromised in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP plans to challenge the election’s outcome in court, alleging that the exercise “fell short of every standard to be called an election.”
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In a statement issued on Monday, PDP Chairman in Cross River, Venatius Ikem, detailed several issues he says undermined the election’s integrity.
According to Ikem, the election was marred by systematic rigging tactics, including the diversion of ballot papers, inadequate and unmarked materials, and the exclusion of authorised stamps essential for validating ballots.
“The entire process was skewed to favour the ruling APC,” Ikem stated. “In Calabar South, Municipality, Obudu, Abi, and Obubra, election materials designated for local government use were diverted to the residences of APC officials, where ballot tampering and thumb printing were allegedly carried out in full view of witnesses.”
The PDP also claims that in Obudu, no election materials were issued except to the APC, who allegedly transported the materials to a secure military facility.
According to Ikem, soldiers restricted access to the facility to APC members, allegedly acting on orders from a senior military figure linked to the APC candidate.
Irregularities were further reported in Obanlikwu and Bekwarra local government areas, where ballots were allegedly provided without corresponding result sheets, leading to results being written on unofficial paper.
Ikem characterised these events as part of a calculated scheme to favour the APC, whom he argued was fearful of a free and fair election amid declining public support.
The Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), chaired by Dr Ekong Boco, distanced itself from the allegations.
Boco attributed the problems to actions by the political parties, asserting that the commission did its best to ensure a smooth election.
Following the election, the commission announced that the APC had won all 18 chairmanship seats and 196 councillorship positions across the state.
In response, Ikem called on PDP members to remain calm as the party prepares to contest the results in court. “We categorically reject any results from this election.
As far as we are concerned, there was no legitimate local government election in Cross River State. This represents an unprecedented level of electoral malpractice in the state’s history,” he declared.
