The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the Young Progressives Party (YPP) provide evidence for its allegations of an “unholy alliance” between Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the rescheduled governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections in favor of the PDP.
The YPP state chairman, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, claimed in a briefing on Wednesday that Governor Emmanuel had visited INEC and spent several hours there to manipulate the polls. Andy said the party had received intelligence about a plot to favor the ruling PDP and called on the police, the Department of State Services and international observers to intervene. He outlined a detailed scheme, alleging that voting materials for specific constituencies would be withheld or released at particular times to benefit the PDP, that “PDP thugs” together with illegal police officers and some genuine military personnel would be deployed to opposition strongholds—particularly YPP areas—to disrupt the election, destroy voting materials and even stage kidnappings of INEC officials. Andy also alleged that some BVAS machines had been pre‑set with figures favoring the PDP, claiming that the usual “0000” display would be absent.
In response, the PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Borono Bassey, issued a statement titled “2023 Elections and YPP’s First Alibi for Looming Defeat.” He challenged Apostle Andy, who also oversees a Uyo‑based church, to produce any shred of evidence that Governor Emmanuel visited an INEC office on the alleged date, warning that without proof the YPP chairman should not preach against lying. Bassey expressed shock that the “ill‑fated and makeshift” YPP was using “reverse psychology” to accuse INEC, the PDP, and the governor of wrongdoing, noting that security agencies had already received multiple tip‑offs about illicit activities by YPP leaders ahead of the elections.
According to Bassey, videos exist showing prominent YPP chieftains intimidating INEC staff at offices across various local governments in Akwa Ibom. He warned that the PDP would not tolerate such behavior and that security agencies had been urged to deploy video surveillance statewide and to apprehend any political figure attempting to undermine a smooth, credible, and peaceful election. The statement also claimed that intelligence—some allegedly from high‑ranking YPP members whose loyalties remain with the PDP—revealed that the YPP had brought in thugs from neighboring states and housed them in facilities owned by YPP leaders, planning to unleash violence on voters. Upon receiving this intelligence, security agencies acted to investigate and thwart the alleged plot.
The PDP concluded by urging Akwa Ibom residents to go to their polling units, use their Permanent Voter Cards, and vote overwhelmingly for the PDP, sending a clear message to those who seek to drag the state backward.
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