President Muhammadu Buhari, on
Monday said that the votes of the Akwa Ibom people allegedly stolen during the
Presidential and National Assembly elections of Feb. 23, would be reclaimed.
Buhari said this during a town
hall meeting held in Uyo to thank the people of the state for casting their
votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections.
President Buhari, who was
represented by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo encouraged the people to
defend their votes during the coming Governorship and House of Assembly
Elections.
He decried the circumstances,
under which Sen. Godswill Akpabio lost his re-election into the senate in spite
of his popularity across the state.
He alleged that the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) robbed him and the party of victory.
He assured Akwa Ibom people that
all the wrongdoings during the Presidential and National Assembly elections
would be addressed.
“What happened on the 23rd of
February was robbery. The votes of the people were stolen, but we are not
deterred.
“The president sent me to thank
you today. We are going to make sure that everything that was stolen on the
February 23 would be restored.
“It is not possible that Sen.
Godwill Akpabio lost. We are in no doubt that Senator Akpabio is the elected
senator of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.
“I and Adams Oshiomhole, the
National Chairman of the party have been in the opposition for long and we
cannot be defeated anymore.
“Everyone of you should go out to
vote on Saturday and defend your votes, we cannot be cheated; not only you but
tell your neighbours to vote for Obong Nsima Ekere and all APC candidates.
“Wait for your votes to be
counted. It is the duty of the Federal Government to provide security and we
will do that. We will recover every one of our votes, ” he said.
The National Chairman of APC,
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said the party was not in the state to lament but to
appreciate the people of the state for doing their jobs and voting President
Buhari and Prof. Osinbajo.
He alleged that INEC colluded
with some of the electoral officers to deny the state of its electoral victory
on Feb 23, even though the people voted for APC.
“We have not come here to lament that
our mandate was stolen on February 23. We have come to thank you that you voted
for President Buhari, and all members of the party. You did your job but some
armed robbers in INEC stole your votes.
“You think that those who stole
your votes will have peace? We have come to reaffirm our commitment with
democracy.
“We have come to affirm that no
robber will go unpunished, but when an electoral umpire is corrupt and collude
with the opposition, we have the witnesses and we have lawyers to deal with that.
“On Saturday, we are not going to
wait for them to steal out votes. We call on Akwa Ibom people to protect their
votes. We must maintain our sanity even in this hour of provocation.
“Those who committed democratic
abortion would be brought to book,” Oshiomhole said.
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mmmmm so if the people decide against APC then INEC have rub ,mmm so INEC should not be trusted what a message from number 2 citizen ,
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