The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for postponing the National and State Assembly rerun elections in Rivers State once more. PDP voiced its anger in a series of tweets on its official Twitter handle on Wednesday and noted that this was second postponement following an initial postponement in March this year.

The party, which also aimed potshots at President Muhammadu Buhari, claimed that the postponements have only allowed for the continuation of ‘unjust and illegal’ deprivation of the people of the state proper representation in the National Assembly.

“The people of Rivers State have continually been deprived of representation at the National Assembly. This deprivation is unjust & illegal.” “Without mincing words, we condemn this action. This is the second postponement after the rerun elections were previously postponed in March,” the party said. “With each postponement INEC & the security agencies are telling Nigerians that the Buhari admin is incapable of protecting Nigerians.”

Apparently, the party sees the postponement as a ploy by the Commission to prevent its state, Rivers from benefiting from proper representation in the National Assembly.

It would be recalled that INEC on Tuesday announced the postponement of the July 30 rerun election because it could not guarantee the safety of its officials and elections nor guarantee a free and fair exercise because of the high level of insecurity in the state.

A statement signed by the Commission’s secretary, Augusta Ogakwu, read: “The reports of these assessments have been almost unanimous in concluding that the prevailing security situation in most parts of the state where elections are to hold are not conducive for peaceful elections.

“In the Commission’s view, the rhetorics of some of the political actors, the incidence of violence in a number of local government areas where these elections are scheduled and the atmosphere of fear and intimidation created present danger in proceeding with elections as earlier scheduled.”

The Commission assured “that it is ready to conclude elections in Rivers State within shortest time possible once security situation is conducive for the conduct of peaceful polls”.