Rerun: Akpabio has a lifeline!

Abasifreke Effiong

I have read a number of stories, “analyses” and opinions on the Appeal Court judgment in Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Chris Ekpenyong’s case after the court ordered a rerun in Essien Udim local government area as part of its judgment on the Ikot Ekpene (Akwa Ibom North West) senatorial district election. I had to cut short my long leave of not writing on political issues after reading a story on the case published by The Nation newspaper (online), on Monday 11th November. The story can be accessed at https://thenationonlineng.net/ekpenyong-akpabio-chase-19455-votes/

Distortions in The Nation newspaper’s report which was republished and broadcast by many media organisations in Akwa Ibom state and the aspirin prognoses about the rerun which the board of INEC is yet to sit and set out modalities for, have made me feel really sad. From The Nation newspaper, the distortions were retailed merrily by our overeager amateur ‘political and public affairs analysts’. Very many of these ‘let-the-public-be-fooled’ analysts went crazy with those distortions, confusing themselves and some members of the public who rely on them for information. The very sacred role of the media which is to inform the public correctly is under threat. Proper gathering, cross-checking, verification and re-verification of pieces of information should be the hallmark of journalism practice. Information gathering and processing are serious responsibilities that should not be left in the hands of people who do not have the right training, discipline and character.

The Nation newspaper’s report with the headline, “Ekpenyong, Akpabio chase 19,455 votes”, even though it trended on Facebook and became the talking point, was misleading and unfactual; so were the “analyses”, permutations and opinions that drew data from that report. Was the frenzy in retailing the false report another black propaganda from my fair-skinned friend who has become a pro at spinning jaw-breaking deceits? It is pathetic that a few persons whom the public should trust have refused to do their jobs well, hence ended up misinforming the people.

The Nation’s report suggested that 19,455 persons will vote in the rerun election. This is false. The report also claimed that INEC declared 114,973 votes for the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Chris Ekpenyong and 76,917 votes for Godswill Akpabio. That too is false. Again, Ekpenyong did not win in nine local government areas. Results of the election obtained by this writer on Tuesday 12th November, from the Voters Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Liaison department of INEC in Uyo show that Ekpenyong had 118,215 votes while Akpabio had 83,158 votes. The results also show that Ekpenyong won in seven local government areas, while Akpabio won in Ikot Ekpene, Etim Ekpo and Essien Udim. Also, the vote difference between Ekpenyong and Akpabio was 35,057 not 38,085 as published in that report.

Apologies to everyone who was misled by those pieces of misinformation and the skewed analyses its sauced. I am ashamed to note that those pieces of misinformation have amplified the porousness of our media operations and the laziness of some young persons in my state who do nothing than spend all their time on social media copying and pasting whatever thing sits well with their affinities, lies regardless. We live in a community where people are eager to talk and write on issues than verify information on those issues before talking, writing or taking a position on them. I do not want to believe that the misleading headline, wrong figures and “analyses” that were retailed after the judgment were intended to intimidate Akpabio and his men into forfeiting the rerun as someone alleged. However, if that is true, then I would say the chief aim which it succeeded at, was to distract Ekpenyong’s genuine supporters and give them false impression that the rerun will be a walk over for them.

The Appeal Court judgment has given a lifeline to Akpabio to prove that he is not a “coward” as Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, his estranged friend who could not win his local government in the senatorial election said he is. Akpabio also has a chance to prove that he is not a “national comedian”, as Ini Ememobong, the publicity secretary of the PDP, one of the boys Akpabio handed over to his successor Governor Udom Emmanuel, said. It is a chance for Akpabio to prove that he did not lose the election as he claimed in an interview after Ekpenyong was declared winner by INEC. If the umpire is fair and neutral, the rerun in Essien Udim will be a chance to prove who the real political champion is between Akpabio and Ekpenyong.

With the nullification of the election in Essien Udim, Ekpenyong is left with 114,793 votes while Akpabio has 76,917 votes. Akpabio is going into the rerun with a deficit of 37,876 votes.

The point to note is that it is not only 19,455 voters who were reportedly accredited using the Electronic Card Reader (ECR) in Essien Udim during the main election in February that will be eligible to vote in the rerun as the report by The Nation newspaper suggested. A senior INEC staff who works in the Voters Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Liaison department said every person who has a PVC in Essien Udim will be eligible to vote. He said, “it is wrong to think that only those who were accredited or voted in the main election held months ago that will vote during the rerun. Everyone who has a PVC in the affected local government will be eligible to vote.”

Essien Udim local government area has 105,555 registered voters. The number of voters with PVC is 95,987 (Source: INEC Akwa Ibom state). This means that 95,987 people with PVCs in Essien Udim will be eligible to vote in the rerun. This number is large enough to upturn the result of the election; as such the rerun will not be a walk over for Ekpenyong. So, it is not right regardless of the intent for anyone to confuse him or his supporters. Ekpenyong and Akpabio should brace up for the rerun.

Many commentators on social media have urged Akpabio to forgo the election and concentrate on his appointment as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. Their plea is built on the fears that the controversial INEC REC in Akwa Ibom, Barr. Mike Igini who has severally been accused of bias against the APC will not hesitate to cook up a new abracadabra to frustrate Akpabio. I do not know how true this claim is! But beyond the “Iginigate”, others hold the opinion that Akpabio should keep his current job. I think Akpabio knows what he wants, and inside sources within the Akpabio’s political camp say the senate election is more about redeeming his honour and ‘political reputation.’

Despite these fears, Akpabio can still pull through with the rerun if there is at least 57 percent turnout of voters and he can poll 82.02 percent of valid votes cast by these voters. During the senatorial election in February this year, voters turnout in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district was above 60 percent going by the results declared by INEC. If at least 57 percent of eligible voters in Essien Udim turn up for the rerun election, this will mean 54,712 people voting. The 82.02 percent of this vote which Akpabio needs to win the election is 44,878. Akpabio can be sure of a win with this figure, provided Ekpenyong does not score beyond 12.08 percent (6,612) of the votes cast. With this, Akpabio will have 121,795 votes and Ekpenyong 121,404 votes. The winning number will be 391 votes. If Akpabio must win in event where voters turnout soars above 60 percent, then Ekpenyong must not score above 15 percent of valid votes cast in the rerun. This is the lifeline, and Akpabio’s biggest hurdle.