The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of becoming increasingly anxious over what it described as an impending defeat in the 2019 governorship and legislative elections in Akwa Ibom State.
The APC made the claim in a statement issued on Sunday by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, while reacting to allegations earlier raised by the PDP concerning the political situation and security in the state.
The PDP had on Saturday accused former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio of allegedly working with the APC governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere, to create a crisis in the state as part of a strategy to disrupt the conduct of the elections.
APC, however, rejected the allegation as unsubstantiated, describing it as an attempt by the opposition party to discredit its leaders ahead of the polls.
“In the face of imminent defeat in the forthcoming 2019 governorship and legislative elections in Akwa Ibom State, the PDP has resorted to falsehood and propaganda against APC leaders in the state in its desperation to remain in the reckoning of the Akwa Ibom electorate,” the party said.
It specifically rejected the allegations involving Akpabio, Atuekong Don Etiebet and Ekere, describing them as part of what it called the PDP’s political campaign against the APC.
According to the APC, the PDP should instead focus on its performance in the state rather than make allegations against its political opponents.
“The PDP has already lost the forthcoming election as a result of the pedestrian performance of the Udom Emmanuel administration. The party should face its fate rather than engage in scare-mongering,” the statement added.
The APC also accused the PDP of attempting to portray itself as a victim despite what it described as allegations of violence involving some of its members in parts of the state.
The party made particular reference to petitions reportedly submitted to the Inspector-General of Police concerning Emmanuel Enoidem, the PDP National Legal Adviser and a former commissioner in the Emmanuel administration.
According to the APC, the petitions contained allegations that Enoidem had links to cult groups and militant gangs operating in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area and neighbouring Ukanafun.
The party further alleged that the activities of such groups had resulted in deaths and the displacement of residents.
Those claims, however, were presented by the APC as allegations contained in petitions and were not independently established in the statement.
The APC also accused the state government of failing to adequately address the reported security concerns, alleging that the situation had continued despite casualties and displacement in affected communities.
Turning to the political contest, the party said it believed its growing presence in Akwa Ibom represented a significant change from previous election cycles.
It pointed out that the APC did not win any councillorship seat in the state during the 2015 election but now had members occupying various political positions.
The party consequently dismissed the description of Akwa Ibom as a “core PDP state,” arguing that political developments in the state showed that the electorate could no longer be taken for granted.
According to the APC, its growing support in the state meant that the 2019 election would be more competitive than previous contests.
The party also warned against any attempt to create tension or disrupt the electoral process, saying the people of Akwa Ibom should be allowed to freely choose their representatives at the polls.
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