The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River state has rejected the result of the 25th February 2023 Northern senatorial district polls in which Governor Ben Ayade lost.
It could be recalled that Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had defeated Gov Ayade in the said polls by about 20,000 votes.
Addressing journalists in Calabar, Thursday, the state chairman of the party, Mr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba attributed the loss to intimidation by some military personnel who, he said, were in connivance with some corrupt political opponents to rob the APC of victory
“They deployed tanks through the aide of some of their sons particularly in Ugaga community and got us intimidated. Those who deployed soldiers should be tried and court marshalled. You cannot deploy soldiers without the knowledge of the state governor.
“If you look at Section 68 of the Electoral Act, soldiers can only be deployed to protect INEC materials and not to intimidate voters,” he stated.
While restating the determination of the party to challenge the declaration of Senator Jarigbe in court, Mr Eba added, “That declaration of victory will evaporate into the thin air.
“One finger cannot thumbprint all ballot papers and you expect us to accept it. Maybe forensic experts would have to wade into the matter.
“We reject that in totality. We enjoined our supporters not to be involved in violence.”
