The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Cross River State has taken delivery of sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, for onward distribution to the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner Prof Gabriel Yomere, who took the delivery of election ballots papers and result sheets alongside ICCES and IPAC members in Calabar the state capital today Wednesday said “this week he has received over 10 petitions claiming that the result sheets are already in seculation somewhere in Cross River State.
Prof Yomere explained that the petitions demanded that the REC should signed the result sheets but according to him, there is no provision for it in the electoral laws that the result sheets should be signed by him before leaving the CBN.
He went to announce to journalists that he will sign the result sheets of the Governorship election, while the administrative secretary will sign that of the house of assembly.
“We are here to take over the sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN,for March 18, Gubernatorial election.
“This week I have received over 10 petitions claiming that the result sheets are already in seculation somewhere in Cross River State. Thereby demanding that the REC should sign the result sheets.
“There is no provision for it in the electoral laws that the result sheets should be signed. Therefore, I am not moved by this rumour that is a tradition that the result sheets should be signed But whatever I do with fear of God and my conscience I would do it.
“I want to announce to the press and especially to the party that myself and the management have resolved to sign the result sheets. I am going to sign the result sheets of the Governorship election, the administrative secretary will sign that of the house of assembly.
“This is not to satisfy the wish of the rumor mongers but to satisfy my conscience. He stated.
On his part, the state chairman Young Progressive Party YPP, and Chairman Inter-Party Advisory Council Cross River State Chapter Anthony Bisong Attah, said they were deliberately elected to put pressure on INEC to ensure it does the right thing.
According to him, IPAC members , Party Chairmen not less than 12 wrote individually to the REC demanding and insisting that they don’t want a repeat of what happened in the last elections where results for northern Cross River were conspicuously absent even after collation.
“We are deliberately elected to put pressure on INEC to ensure they do the right thing and that has culminated in acceptance today of the REC that he would sign all the result sheets before they are distributed.
“We insisted and we are happy that he has heeded voluntarily of course to sign all the result sheets that will be used for Governorship election. He stated.
