Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike has accused the Governors of Bauchi, Benue, Kano and Plateau states of donating one billion naira (N1b) each to the All Progressive Congress, APC, party candidates in the state for the rigging of the re-run election held on 10th December, 2016.
The election which saw the killing of over five persons including a police DSP was riddled with brazen rigging and violence.
Wike gave the allegation during a state broadcast after the election.
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Rivers state governor, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains committed to a violent-free legislative rerun election in the state come December 10, 2016.
He also has declared that the state is too big for anybody to impose representatives on the people, stressing that the people must be allowed to elect their representatives.
Wike, who spoke yesterday during the dedication service for the flag-off of the PDP campaign for the 2016 re-run election in the state at Saint Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Garrison Junction, Port Harcourt, called on the opponents of PDP to play within the rules of engagement.
The governor urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be neutral in the course of the rerun election to ensure that the will of the people prevails, saying, “this election will prove whether INEC is ready to conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria.
“What causes violence during election is when the umpire wants to manipulate, rig or write results. We will resist any attempt to write results. PDP will not be involved in anything violent, but we will not allow anyone to steal our votes. We will protect our votes and make sure that the people’s mandate is declared.”
He explained that the PDP was dedicating its forthcoming campaigns for the rerun elections to God, because the party relies on God for victories, noting that the party is sure of victory at the rerun polls because of the massive achievements of his administration in the last 17 months.
Venerable John Adubasim of the Saint Paul’s Anglican Church while dedicating the PDP campaigns for the rerun elections to God, asked members of the party to trust in the Lord for their sustenance and victory.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again suspended all action concerning elections into federal and state assembly election in Rivers State pending the receipt of a comprehensive report from its Field Officials and Monitors on the state of security in the affected constituencies.
The commission also added that the suspension does not affect the constituencies where the exercise has been completed and the results declared by the Returning Officers.
INEC’s Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, in a statement yesterday night said “Pursuant to the Orders of the Court of Appeal, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted elections into various seats in both the National and the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday, the 19th of March, 2016.
“Rather unfortunately, some of these elections witnessed the disruption of the process, including the barricading of some of the INEC Local Government offices and Registration Area Centres (RACs) used for the distribution of Electoral materials which led to the late commencement of the exercise in some places and consequently, its smooth take off.
“Of more serious concern was the level of threats, violence and intimidation of election officials and voters by well armed thugs and miscreants allegedly acting on behalf of some politicians, which marred the elections in some areas. There were reports of numerous attacks resulting in fatalities, kidnappings, ballot snatching, diversion of officials and materials, amongst others, which necessitated its suspension in 8 Local Government Areas.
“Regrettably, such deviant behaviour has continued today. Several permanent and ad hoc staff engaged have been attacked, again resulting in fatalities, while some have been forcibly abducted and taken to presently unknown destinations.
“Under such difficult circumstance, the Returning Officers were only able to collate and declare results in 1 Federal and 9 State constituencies where the disruption and malpractices were not so widespread.
“Having reviewed the situation, the Commission is compelled to suspend all further action concerning the exercise in all the other constituencies in the State pending the receipt of a comprehensive report from its Field Officials and Monitors. For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the suspension does not affect the constituencies where the exercise has been completed and the results declared by the Returning Officers.”
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has threatened those nursing intent to rig the legislative rerun election, scheduled for December 10, to be ready to face the consequences.
The governor, who briefed the media, yesterday, at the Government House in Port Harcourt, on alleged arrest and recovery of sensitive materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), allegedly printed at Isiokpo Street, Port Harcourt, on Saturday, accused the electoral agency, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the police of plotting to rig the rerun election in the state.
The people of Rivers, said the governor, are prepared to resist such plot.
“If you rig this election, you rig your life. If you like, bring American Marines here, we will resist rigging in Rivers. Let the people make their own choices; INEC, should not take us for granted,” he said.
Wike also accused the police of trying to destroy evidence of the illegal printing of INEC sensitive materials and failing to prosecute those behind the illegal act.
He alleged it was due to pressure from Abuja and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted.
In a swift reaction, Rivers APC accused the governor and the PDP of using thugs to stage, “bursting of a fake result sheets printing syndicate in Port Harcourt.”
Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, Mr. Chris Fineface said no APC person, chieftain or ordinary member, was involved in any of the “purported actions as alleged by Wike and the PDP, assuming without conceding that any such development took place.”
“The APC would like to unequivocally state that the party has zero-tolerance for electoral malpractice and does not directly or indirectly engage in any form of electoral malfeasance. We advise Rivers people and indeed Nigerians not to fall for Wike’s antics deliberately contrived to tarnish the image of the APC and its members in Rivers State,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nandi Omoni, confirmed that “some persons were arrested in connection with alleged printing of INEC sensitive materials” but did not disclose the number of persons arrested.
He only said the suspects were being interrogated and added that the police would make their findings public.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State has presented certificates of return to 11 persons declared winners in the State Assembly re-run elections held on March 19.
The presentation of certificates was made in a low key ceremony at the headquarters of the electoral body in Port Harcourt, the capital of the state.
It was presided over by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aniedi Ikoiwak, with elected members in the mood of expectation, as they file out one after the other to collect their certificates.
This, however, is coming after some reactions and protest had trailed the seeming delay in the presentation of certificates to winners.
Mr Ikoiwak said no amount of pressure would make the commission release results that do not meet the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has offered automatic employment for a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who lost her sight during the 2011 general elections in Yobe State.
Similarly, the commission promised to fully participate in the burial programme of Okonta Samuel, a? corps member who lost his life in last Saturday’s re-run elections in Rivers State.
These were disclosed by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu when he paid a condolence visit to the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig-General Johnson Olawumi on Tuesday.
Professor Yakubu, who regretted the circumstances, which led to the unfortunate death of the corps member, praised the services of youth corps members in the conduct of elections.
He said the commission appreciates their invaluable services to the nation, and restated that INEC would continue to guarantee the safety of corps members participating in the conduct of election.
Credit: DailyTimes
