The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Barr. Mike Igini, has threatened to file a N1 billion lawsuit against the spokesman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Blessing Agbomhere, for alleged defamatory statements the APC chieftain made against him, IgbereTV reports
Agbomere had, in an interview on Arise TV on June 29, accused Igini of bias against the APC in the primary election held by the party in Akwa Ibom, accusing him of working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
“Mike Igini has abused the privilege of his office, he is partial and biased against the interest of APC in Akwa Ibom State, he is working for the PDP in Akwa Ibom State, he is a ceremonial consultant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State in electoral matters.
“He has compromised the values of INEC, he is a hatchet man hired by the PDP to work for them in INEC, shamelessly defending the rights of political parties and that he lives in the Lodge of the Government of Akwa Ibom State….. that he has videos of him driving in and coming out,” Agbomere had said among other things.
While taking an exception to the allegations, Igini, in a pre-litigation notice served on Agbomere on Monday by his team of lawyers led by Chief Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN), alleged that the APC chieftain had not only accused him of working for the PDP in Akwa Ibom, but also acting as a ceremonial consultant to Governor Udom Emmanuel who lived in the Government House, which he said were baseless.
The REC therefore, gave Agbomhere 48 hours to retract the said defamatory statements and tender an apology to him in four major television stations and five newspapers or he should be prepared to meet him in court
