A’Ibom polls, complete fraud, says Etiebet

A former Petroleum Minister, Mr. Don Etiebet, has said that the people of Akwa Ibom State will not summit to intimidation in choosing their leaders.

He stated that the 2015 general election in the state was a complete fraud in the electoral system as the Akwa Ibom people were disenfranchised.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo on Wednesday on the activities of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that sat in Abuja, Etiebet said that he and other elders in the state were determined to return democracy to Akwa Ibom State.

He said the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State had appealed for total cancellation of the governorship election, claiming that people were killed, maimed and ballots snatched in the few local government areas where elections held.

According to him, the scenario was overwhelming enough for the election to have been completely annulled, adding that the environment was not conducive for the people to participate in the April 11 governorship and the house of assembly elections in the state.

“We will always stand by the truth in this state. We have to work hard to ensure that this state belongs to all Akwa Ibom people, not to a group of hooligans, cult boys, or thugs.

“We are not going to submit to any intimidation by anybody. Who in this state has not benefitted from me that I should be afraid of?

“We want to return this state to democracy; we want to return this state to a situation where people will come out and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice. Right now, there is no such environment.”

A’Ibom polls, complete fraud, says Etiebet