Akwa Ibom youths barricade INEC office, demand Igini’s removal


Youths under the aegis of the Coalition of political parties in Akwa Ibom have barricaded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the state, demanding the immediate removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mike Igini.

The protesters numbering over 1000 on Wednesday in Uyo, alleged that Igini had deviated from an unbias umpire to partisan politics and the effect is in the controversy rocking particularly the All Progressives Party (APC) in the state.

Blueprint reports that the protesters who chanted “Mike Igini must go,”  blocked the INEC office entrance disallowing staff of the Commission from entering their offices.

They were seen with placards carrying various inscriptions that read; “Igini is biased”, “democracy is not for sale”, “INEC must act now”, “Akwa Ibom REC is compromised”.

Others are; “Igini don’t kill Akwa Ibom political parties”, “Igini is partisan”, “Igini is a factional Chairman of a party”, among several others.

Speaking with Blueprint, the Leader of the Coalition of Akwa Ibom State Youths in Opposition Parties, Mr. Ubok-Obong Umoh, said the “personal vendetta” of Igini against the main opposition party in the state should be probed.

“This protest is carried by all the youths in opposition political parties in Akwa Ibom State and APC is all prominent here because it is the main opposition party in the state.

“We are protesting clear partisanship demonstrated by a supposed umpire, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr. Mike Igini.

“Between 2019 and now, Igini has demonstrated that he has no faith in Nigerian democracy and as a result, he is now playing the script of the Akwa Ibom State Government,” he said.

Umoh accused Igini of acting on the instructions of the state government, adding that nothing APC or other opposition parties do that is acceptable to him.

He said the REC should be probed over the comments he made during an interview on one of the national television stations that “APC in the state will not have any candidate for 2023 elections”. 

“His statement is unacceptable not just to members of APC but to the generality of the peace-loving people of Akwa Ibom State.

“Opposition is meant for checks and balances in government so if Barr. Mike Igini who supposed to be an umpire feels that the should be no opposition in Akwa Ibom State, he should pack his belongings and leave,” he added.

Also, the State APC Youth Leader, Dr. Awak Clement,  said Igini “is not the only REC that Nigeria has.”

He queried why he should single himself out to fight APC in the state.

He alleged that Igini has openly declared war against APC even before the primaries, adding that for peace to reign in the state, the REC should either resign or be outrightly sacked.

He further querried why Igini should presume himself as the Supreme Court to reject the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court.

Clement appealed to the INEC headquarters to take swift action on the matter so that the peaceful protest does not turn into a disastrous one.

Addressing the press after the protest, the REC, Mr, Igini attributed the crisis leading to the protest to the APC.

Igini accused the APC of forgery, saying APC in the state forged letters that led to the swearing in of Stephen Ntukekpo as the Chairman of the party against a court judgment.

He insisted that INEC recognises Austin Ekanem, not Ntukekpo as the authentic state chairman of the party.