by Inibehe Effiong
The saying that there is nothing hidden under the sun played out on Thursday September 3, 2015 at the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Tribunal in Abuja when a star for the 1st Respondent Mr. Udom Emmanuel gave his testimony in support of Udom and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The witness Engr. Etido Inyang who is a former Special Adviser on Technical Matters to former governor Godswill Akpabio, told the Tribunal during his evidence that election was held in his Local Government Area, Ikot Ekpene, and that restriction of movements was enforced by security agencies on the election day.
Mr. Etido Inyang said he and his wife treked from his house to the polling unit, got accredited, voted and went back to the house to monitor the progress of the election through phone calls and what was broadcasted on the radio. He confidently stated that no case of violence occurred in his Local Government Area and Senatorial District and that the police did their job effectively.
However, Engr. Inyang’s confidence evaporated during cross examination by Counsel to the Petitioners immediately he was given a Police Report which was earlier tendered by the Police and admitted in evidence on the election which detailed cases of murder, sporadic shooting, threat to life, etc, in Ini and Obot Akara and Obot Akara Local Government Area.
When asked to read the report, he suddenly lost his voice and the Petitioners’ Lawyer had to ask him if he couldn’t read?
At the end of the proceedings, Engr. Etido Inyang was seen leaving the venue of the Tribunal with a sad face.
