INEC Warns As Akpabio's Men Buy Up Voters' Cards In A'Ibom

UYO, Feb o5, (THEWILL) - The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Maria Owi has berated a recent development in the state where voter registration cards are being purchased from eligible voters by aides of the current state Governor, Chief Godswill Apkabio.

THEWILL checks in Akwa Ibom State was corroborated by Mrs. Owi who disclosed to our correspondent in Uyo that she had received several reports from some residents of the state who have called her severally to protest against the purchase of voters’ cards from many ignorant voters.

Though the electoral commissioner did not name those involved, some pressure groups in the state a few weeks ago had warned that agents of the Akpabio administration were offering as much as N10, 000 per card.

“Yes I have received a lot of calls that persons suspected to be agents of the state government are going about buying voters’ cards from some members of the public. I have not been able to arrest any suspect, the last time they called me I arrived late so I couldn’t get them but we are still at alert,” the Electoral Commissioner told THEWILL.

Areas of the state where Akpabio’s men have executed their scheme with so much intensity according to the INEC boss include; Uruan, Urunuko, and Itu amongst other local government areas.

A top politician in Itu local government area, who is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who craved anonymity told THEWILL that some women leaders in the council area are being offered N10, 000 for each voter’s card they purchase from ignorant villagers who are then handed a photocopy of their original card.

Another political group, Positive Change 2011 had also alerted that some agents of the state government were mopping up voters’ cards at very irresistible rates in the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District of the state.