By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

Calabar-The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has raised an alarm over plans by some politicians in collaboration with  elements in the commission to truncate the efforts of the commission by planning to rig the elections in Cross River State.

Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the State, Mr. Mike Igini who raised the alarm while briefing newsmen, Sunday, said that before the Saturday April, 2, 2011, National Assembly elections were postponed, it was noticed that there were instances in some in some isolated areas where some of the poll officials planned to rig the elections.

“There are also indications from some incidents which we have witnessed before the elections were postponed yesterday (Saturday) that there are still many people within and outside INEC who are ready to have courage for the vices that will take our country to the nadir of underdevelopment than those who will embrace temperance for the greater good of our country.

“There were instances of places where many agents were not allowed to observe the delivery and distribution of sensitive materials as we did here at the headquarters, this is wrong and must not repeat itself, there were other needless foul play and attempts to undermine the commission’s efforts which we have detected and taken pre-emptive and remedial measures to stop.

“All parties (political parties) must therefore be urged to stop such acts and play and play by the rules, otherwise we shall not hesitate to throw the limelight of probity on all persons who fail to embrace temperance in respect for the aspiration of Nigerians, and any further attempt at such behavior will be paraded for the world to see and judge”, he said.