ELECTORAL BILL: PDP FACTIONAL SPOKESMAN, EMEMBONG, SUFFERING FROM A TROUBLING IGNORANCE OF ELECTORAL HISTORY -Group

The recent unguarded and highly infantile comment credited to the court sacked and factional spokesperson of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Iniobong Ememobong, on the recently passed Electoral Bill by the Nigerian Senate, has been attributed to his suffering from a troubling ignorance of electoral history.

A statement by the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Professionals and signed by Mr Edidiong John and Kemfon Neke, President and General Secretary respectively reads:

"Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Professionals (IK-PRO) has taken note of the press statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of one of the factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Ini Ememobong, on the 10th of February 2026, concerning the Senate’s position on electronic transmission of election results and the scathing remarks on the Senate President.

"Ordinarily, we would ignore yet another partisan outburst. However, when deliberate falsehood is presented to Nigerians as fact against our representative, it becomes necessary to respond. We respond with an abundance of caution given the subsistence of appeal in the PDP imbroglio, despite the recent spate of judgments that points the legal validity of Mr. Ememobong's position as National Publicity Secretary towards another faction of the PDP.

"Let us begin with a basic correction: BVAS was not in existence during the 2019 general elections. It was neither deployed nor available as an electoral tool at the time. For the spokesman of a major political party to suggest that Senator Godswill Akpabio’s 2019 election experience was shaped by BVAS exposes either a troubling ignorance of electoral history or a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

"We expect Mr. Ememobong, at the very least, to conduct minimal research before issuing statements. We do not begrudge him for doing his job as an opposition spokesperson. That is his constitutional role. What we insist upon, however, is adherence to ethical standards, which include a commitment to factual accuracy. 

"Public communication in a democracy must not be built on convenient distortions. The role must be carried out within the bounds of ethics, which demand factual accuracy and intellectual honesty.

"Contrary to the narrative being pushed, Senator Akpabio is not haunted by the introduction of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process. He was vindicated by it. 

"In the 2023 general elections, when BVAS was deployed nationwide for the first time in National Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akpabio secured a resounding victory despite the political resistance and desperation of the PDP in the state. It is therefore correct to say that technology did not diminish his mandate but rather affirmed it.

"Whatever decision that Mr. Ememobong is protesting was the unanimous decision of the Senate, including the remnant of PDP senators and other opposition senators in attendance, one of whom opted to withdraw a motion for division vote.

"The Senate President is performing his constitutional duties as presiding officer of the Senate, a body that operates on collective decision-making. In matters decided by the Senate, including unanimous or majority resolutions, the outcome reflects the collective will of the chamber. 

"To single out the presiding officer for decisions that are products of parliamentary consensus or majority decision misrepresents the legislative process. An attempt to personalise an institutional process is a tired political tactic.

"Mr. Ini Ememobong should leave the person of Senator Godswill Akpabio alone and focus on rebuilding the credibility of his struggling party in Nigeria.

"IK-PRO will not stand by while our Senator and Senate President is subjected to careless distortions and revisionist attacks. Please leave the Senate President alone.

Signed:

Mr. Edidiong John 

President 

Barr. Kemfon Neke 

Secretary General