An All Progressives Congress Chieftain in Akwa Ibom State, Elder Enefiok Ekefre, on Tuesday told the Governorship Elections Tribunal sitting in Uyo, that his party lostout to the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections because members refused to work hard.
He added that the party lost because it ignored his advice for rigorous grassroots campaign and choose instead to depend on assistance from federal government.
According to Ekefre, “i advised my party(APC) to do grassroots campaign so they can win PDP who has been in power since 1999. They refused, that is why we lost.
“Till today at our meetings, they still talk about federal might which I don’t know what they mean.
“Our party didn’t work hard enough to win, that is why we lost, and the results reflect the wishes of the people.”
During cross examination by counsel to second respondent (the People’s Democratic party), Oyedepo SAN, Elder Ekefre opened up to the court on the role of the State Caucus as the highest advisory body of the party in the state, tendering his letter of appointment before the tribunal.
He absolved INEC of any blame during the election, adding that he witnessed a free and fair election devoid of thuggery and any form of violence.
“I arrived at my polling unit by 9.15am, I saw election materials and INEC officials waited till everybody arrived before it was opened.
“Because of my past experience in politics, I observe that INEC was very transparent in the elections.
On cross examination by J. S. Okutepa,SAN, Counsel to the Petitioner, Elder Ekefre denied knowledge of the number of people accredited saying he was not an electoral officer.
“Are you aware that INEC cancelled election in 245 polling units,” he was again asked.
“I’m not the one who conducted the election so I can’t talk about numbers of those that were accredited”.
Two other witnesses, Wilfred Okon from Uruan and Etim Esin from Urueffong Oruko also testified in favour of the PDP as polling unit agents in their respective localities, affirming that their units witnessed credible polls.
