- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 30 out of 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom elections
- All Progressives Congress (APC) claimed election integrity was compromised by state government influence
- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strengthened its position as the leading political party in most of the councillorship positions statewide
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 30 of the 31 local government areas in the just concluded local government election in Akwa Ibom State as announced by the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC).
The Chairman of AKISIEC, Aniedi Ikoiwak, disclosed the results at the commission's headquarters on Udo Udoma Avenue on Sunday, October 6.
APC challenges election results, citing rigging and violence
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the election results, stressing that the process was tainted by extensive rigging, violence, and the theft of materials by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a press statement signed by the APC's state publicity secretary, OtoAbasi Udo, the party claimed that AKISIEC compromised the integrity and credibility of the election to benefit the PDP.
The statement read, “Yesterday, 5 October 2024, Local Government Elections to usher in newly elected executive chairmen and councillors were conducted by AKISIEC (Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission), the tenure of the exiting chairmen and councillors having since come to an end by effluxion of time.
APC accuses PDP of voter inducements, others in Akwa Ibom elections
“AKISIEC just like any other SIEC in Nigeria is controlled and managed by the State Government. To that extent, there is a perceived and real influence of the electoral umpire by the State Government.
“And to that extent, the obvious result would be tilted in favour of the ruling party in the State. Therefore, what we saw and experienced yesterday was a manifestation of such influence beginning with acute shortages of election materials which disenfranchised quite a number of accredited voters, and actions of financial inducements on voters by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State.
“In spite of the above and more, the teeming supporters of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress, and APC in the State, all came out to support our candidates on the ballot.
SIECs influence on LG elections to end with upcoming reforms, APC
“The Party, ably led by Obong Stephen Leo Ntukekpo, uses this opportunity to express her sincere thanks and appreciation to you all for your tireless, steadfast, unalloyed support and commitment to the Party and assure you that with the Supreme Court judgment that returned full autonomy to the third tier of government, the local government, enshrined in our constitution and the steps taken by the National Assembly to give full effect to the judgment, from the next local government election, all SIECs in charge of local government elections now, would have been dismantled, incapacitated and laid to rest and a bright prospect for future local government elections firmly put in place,” the press statements read in part.
Senate President Akpabio local government, won by APC
The results announcement indicated that the PDP won in 30 of the state's 31 local government areas.
The PDP also claimed most of the councilors positions statewide, strengthening its position as the leading political party.
While the APC claimed victory in Essien Udim, the local government area represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
APP secures 22 chairmanship positions in Rivers local government elections, others
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Governor Siminalayi Fubara conducted Rivers local government elections despite boycotts and protests from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Action Peoples Party secured 22 chairmanship positions out of 23 in the state's local government elections.