Ahead of the March 18, 2023 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, the Cross River State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomeri, to sign the result sheets which will be used for conduct of the elections.

The party’s leadership stressed that signing of election result sheets would put to rest the suspicion and rumour being peddled in some quarters that results of the forthcoming March 18 elections may have been compromised by the electoral umpire.

The State party chairman of SDP, Dr. Ekpeyong Ambo, gave the charge while speaking in a telephone conversation with the press on Tuesday in Calabar.

Ekpenyong stated that signing of the result sheets would remove the erroneous belief by most political parties in the State that results of the March 18, 2023 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections was already in the hands of a particular political party.

A letter from the SDP addressed to the Cross River State REC, Prof Gabriel Yomeri, called on the REC to to sign result sheets for both the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections without hesitation.

The SDP letter signed by its State party chairman Dr. Ambo, called on Cross River REC to expedite action in the signing of the result sheets so as to put to rest the suspicion and rumour in certain quarters that results for the elections had already been compromised.

The letter which was dated March 13, sighted by LEADERSHIP, reads: “In order to avoid any manoeuvring and continuing any solemn relationship, it is petinent to ensure that a harmonized working relationship is hinged on your response to full compliance with extant laws.”

But, reacting to the development, the REC debunked the allegations, saying that the allegations that results of the March 18 elections had been compromised was laughable and lies from the pit of hell.

“I think asking INEC to sign result sheets of an election that is yet to be conducted is laughable and uncalled for. I see this as an expression of fear on the part of the oolitical party that is making such a demand as a way of expressing fear of going for the contest.

“Why not go to the people at atleast house to house to intensify your campaign ahead of he contest instead of staying behind to dictate to INEC to do your bidding.

“INEC is not under any obligation to do exactly according to the dictates of any political party but would do according to guidelines of conduct for the elections,” Prof. Yomeri stated.