The Civil Society Organisations as well as the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Sir Monday Uko have condemned in strong terms the invasion of the INEC office in Ibot Akara Local council of the state on Friday night which had two persons killed while about 15 vehicles used for conveying electoral materials and personnels were burnt.
In a statement signed by the chairman of CSOs in the State, Harry Udo, the group said such barbaric act by the hoodlums could jeopardize the Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy.
According to him, ‘We strongly condemn the violence that took place at Nto Edino in Obot Akara LGA that saw 15 of the buses that conveyed election personnel to the LGA completely burnt down and two of the drivers severely injured by hoodlums reported to number about a hundred who arrived in several buses and motorcycles.
“Acts like this are capable of truncating our democracy and subvert the will and intent of the people. We are also disappointed that the personnel were transported to the LGA without adequate security. We call on the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of such dastardly act and ensure they face the full weight of the law.”
“We therefore demand adequate security for both materials and human resources deployed by the Commission to the field to ensure their safety and forestall possible violations and attacks by unpatriotic individuals or groups across the country.”
On his own, the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Sir. Monday Uko urged the people of Obot Akara to remain calm and law abiding, insisting that no manner of manipulation and intimidation can stop his people’s wishes from becoming a reality.
The Commissioner who is from Obot Akara further urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the recent attack at his local government area and bring the perpetrators to book.
He explained that the reported violence in Obot Akara on Friday, occurred when some thugs allegedly sponsored by the APC, attacked INEC office in Obot Akara , venting their frustration on some INEC buses, and setting them ablaze.
Describing Obot-Akara as a PDP stronghold, Mr. Uko, said members of the opposition were very much aware of this fact, hence their resort to violence.
“I request them to conduct a thorough investigation to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime, with a view to bring them to book and exonerating those who are innocent”.
“The police are aware of those involved and if they are serious about their functions, those criminal elements would be arrested without delay.
“It is unfortunate that despite the repeated outcry against the threats to violence by leaders of the state’s opposition party, no significant action has been seen to be taken against such threats.
“Three weeks ago, the Obot Akara Electoral Officer was attacked by the same known APC chieftains and the perpetrators were reported promptly to security agents. Unfortunately, the security agents failed to apprehend them, allowing them to boast on the streets of Obot Akara that they have federal might, and cannot be arrested”. He said.
On the allegation that armed thugs were arrested in his residence, Uko said it was false, maintaining that as a former local government chairman and a grassroots politician, he had no need of thugs, as he had the firm support of his people.
