Action Congress of Nigeria in Cross River State on Monday accused the Peoples Democratic Party of plotting to undermine the outcome of its governorship election case before the Supreme Court. The ACN had dragged the PDP to the apex court challenging the decision of the election petitions tribunal and Appeal Court, to uphold the declaration of Liyel Imoke as the governor of the state.
Independent National Electoral Commission had after the February 25, 2012 in the state, declared Imoke, candidate of the PDP as the winner of the poll.
However, the ACN, which is seeking a reversal of the INEC’s declaration, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ekeng-Iwatt Effiom, on Monday alleged that the PDP had plotted to subvert the verdict of the apex court.
ACN said, “Indeed, we have on good authority that the top echelons of the PDP in Abuja are in talks with the Presidency to subvert the course of justice by favouring Imoke in the final verdict.
“We have watched closely this development after we filed the appeal at the apex court and we are compelled to alert the public of the orchestrated plot by the PDP to attempt a subversion of justice.”
However, the PDP state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obi Bisong, said the ACN was crying wolf, adding that his party was not lobbying anyone to subvert justice.
Bisong said, “At this stage, people should not be talking without proof. The issue with the earlier judgments had to do with period for which they lost at the appeal court.
“We are not lobbying anything as the Supreme Court jurists have their ways of working. The ACN are only crying because they are losing.”
On July 17, 2012, the Justice Ishaq Bello-led Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal threw out the petition of the ACN and its candidate, Pastor Usani Usani, for lack of merit
Subsequently, on January 25, 2013, the Justice Mohammed Garba-led appeal court, ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to determine the matter brought before it by the ACN having been time barred.
Meanwhile, the Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission is not an oil company where workers receive jumbo salaries.
Igini spoke on Monday in Calabar while receiving 26 new employees of the commission posted to the state.
Warning the new employees to refrain from anything that would bring the commission to disrepute, Igini urged them to uphold their oath of neutrality.
Igini said, “This is not an oil company, for choosing to come here means you want to build a career. It is a life-long career and what we pay here is not what they pay in oil companies. So, do not think of making money like oil workers when election comes. If you have that idea, you better bury it now.
“You will have temptations. Your relationship with the political class is a matter we are interested in as from today.”
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