Tag Archives: Rivers Rerun

Rivers Rerun: Wike Constitutes Judicial Commission Of Inquiry

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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, to investigate the killings and other violent acts/matters that occurred during the December 10 rerun and supplementary elections in the state.

The constitution of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry was contained in a special government announcement signed by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr Kenneth Kobani.

According to the announcement, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry has Justice Chinwendu Nwogu as Chairman, while other members include: Mrs Grace Akpughunum-Okwulehie, Prof O.V.C. Okene, Sir Anthony Uzoma Ozurumba, Rev Canon Hossanna Nnaewi, Alphonso Sibi Esq (Chief State Counsel, Secretary) and C. B. Ekeh Esq (Principal State Counsel, Legal Counsel).

The announcement read: “In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 2 (1 ) of the Commissions of Inquiry Law of Rivers State (CAP 30) of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999 and all other powers enabling him in that behalf, the Governor of Rivers State; His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, hereby constitutes and appoints a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the killings and other violent acts/matters that occurred during the December 10, 2016 rerun/supplementary elections to elect members of the National Assembly and House of Assembly in Rivers State.

“The Judicial Commission of Inquiry which would be inaugurated on Thursday at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, has the following terms of reference.

?Investigate the remote and immediate causes of the violence during the December 10, 2016 rerun/supplementary elections in Rivers State.

?Identify the perpetrators of the various acts of violence and killings in the aforesaid election.

?Identify the victims of the violence including those killed

?Identify if property was damaged and the value of any such property

?Determine if the violence was localised to specific areas within the state or was state-wide

?Make appropriate recommendations concerning their findings or any other recommendations as the commission may consider appropriate in the circumstance and

?Submit its report to the Governor of Rivers State within one month from the date of its sitting, ” the statement reads.

Police Probe Panel

This follows the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) demand for the immediate redeployment of Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak.

According to the party, the REC had colluded with Governor Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to rig the elections in favour of PDP.

In an election which was violence-ridden, the APC made the comments after an audio recording which was said to done Wike, surfaced few days ago.

According to the party, the audio in which the governor allegedly threatened INEC officials, confirmed their fears of him engaging in unwholesome conducts that contributed to compromising the integrity of the electoral process.

They also said concerning the 70 incidents reported, Wike must submit himself to the Police Probe Panel to join the police in bringing an end to the killings in Rivers State since he assumed office.

The governor on the other hand, rejected the order, stating that himself, as well as people of the state would not be party to the police ‘phoney’ probe panel.

Rivers Rerun Telephone Scandal: Police To Demand Wike’s Call Data This Week

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The Police team, currently investigating some emerging issues during the rerun elections in Rivers State on December 10, will this week write telecommunication firms for the call data of Governor Nyesom Wike, The PUNCH has learnt.

Wike, in alleged telephone calls before the rerun polls in the state, instructed some electoral officials and other aides to rig the election.

An audio clip, alleged to be the recording of such conversation, has since been released, where a voice, said to belong to Wike, issued various directives, including a death threat.

It was gathered in Abuja that the investigation team, set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, would demand the details of Wike’s calls before, during and shortly after the election.

A senior police source said the detectives would carry out forensic analysis on the governor’s incoming and outgoing telephone calls, including the name of the callers, the numbers dialled, the time, date and duration of the calls, as well as SMS.

“Obtaining the CDR shouldn’t pose any difficulty to the investigators because the telecom firms have it on their exchange. ‘‘Forensic analysis of the audio tapes would be matched with the call logs, which will also assist in identifying the voice prints of the suspects,” a source said.

Further findings indicated that the leaked audio of the telephone calls would be matched against the governor’s voice print to determine if he was involved in the alleged communication, allegedly meant to rig the poll.

The voice print is a set of measurable characteristics of a human voice that uniquely identifies an individual.

The IG had, on Saturday, announced the setting up of a team of detectives to conduct forensic analysis on the audio of a telephone call, purportedly made by Wike in respect of the concluded rerun elections.

The team was also mandated to conduct a thorough investigation into a statement credited to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Yakubu Mahmud, in which he said 70 infractions were

The IG said the team would unravel those who were directly or indirectly responsible for such incidents and bring them to justice.

The investigative team, which is headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, has 30 days to complete the investigation and submit its report, which the Force spokesman, Donald Awunah, said would be made public.

An online medium, SaharaReporters had posted an audio clip of telephone calls allegedly made by Wike, in which he allegedly instructed some electoral officials on how to rig the election.

In another audio, a voice was heard threatening to kill some electoral officials if they failed to carry out the directives for which they were bribed.

Meanwhile, Wike, however, said on Sunday that his administration and people of the state would not be a party to the police probe of the December 10 rerun elections, describing such investigation as phony.

The Rivers State governor, who spoke at a victory thanksgiving mass of the Peoples Democratic Party at Our Lady Chaplaincy of Catholic Institute of West Africa in Port Harcourt, said the probe into the rerun elections had a predetermined goal to indict the PDP and commence a politically-motivated prosecution of some members.

“The police cannot deliberately murder Rivers people in cold blood and turn around to investigate.

“We are not a party to their so-called panel. We have passed that stage and we cannot fall into the trap of a panel of inquiry. After killing our people, you want us to assist you to unravel what? It is the police that killed our people,” he added.

The governor wondered why the police would claim it wanted to investigate issues surrounding the Rivers rerun elections, claiming that the police were involved in the attempt to subvert the will of the people.

He accused the Police High Command of refusing to prosecute the APC chieftains allegedly caught on camera printing fake result sheets ahead of the elections.

Wike added that petitions to the Police High Command on the negative activities of an Assistant Commissioner of Police and a police commander in the state were disregarded.

The governor added, “If it is a country that believes in its image, so many people would have lost their jobs. They cannot ask themselves why 28,000 policemen, yet to be ascertained number of soldiers, police dogs and horses, gunboats, and helicopters could not police ordinary legislative elections.

“It is because the police were the ones committing the fraud, violence, and election materials snatching. We are accusing the police of mass murder, and they turn around to set up a panel of inquiry.

“After killing our people, you fraudulently set up a committee of inquiry. Up till now, they don’t know that we are far ahead. This panel is a mere booby trap to indict the PDP members. If they cared about lives, they wouldn’t do what they did.”

In his sermon, Reverend Monsignor Pius Kii said that the coalition of forces would never defeat Rivers State.

The thanksgiving service was attended by the PDP leaders, senators, House of Representatives members, House of Assembly members and local government caretaker committee chairmen.

We recorded 70 cases of electoral violence in Rivers – INEC

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Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the commission records over 70 cases of electoral violence during the legislative rerun election in Rivers State.

Yakubu disclosed this while addressing a world conference at the opening ceremony of a two-day Capacity Development for INEC Press Corps on Friday in Abuja.

Yakubu said the level of violence witnessed in the rerun was alarming.

He said, “Indeed, in many instances, we had to deploy directly from the local government areas to PUs, contrary to our plans.

“Amidst heavy shooting by political thugs, vehicles transporting materials and personnel to PUs were hijacked.

“Voter registers, ballot papers, result sheets and Smart Card Readers were brazenly snatched at gun point.”

He said INEC will take proper action on the violence recorded.

He said, “The INEC shall carefully scrutinise them and take appropriate action under the law and its guidelines and regulations.”

Yakubu further said INEC will work with security agencies to punish those who disrupted the distribution of election materials.

He said, “INEC will work with the security agencies to uncover and punish those who disrupted the distribution of election materials

“To uncover the hijacking of election materials in Andoni, Oyibo and Ogu-Bolu, the hostage taking in Akoku Toru, the physical attack and kidnapping of election personnel.”

He said INEC officials who tried to disrupt electoral processes will also be punished.

He said, “We also acknowledge that in Ahoada East and West, a Supervisory Presiding Officer unsuccessfully tried to abscond with ballot papers and result sheets.

“We are also investigating the allegation of bribery involving other staff, particularly those deployed to Etche and Ikwerre.

“We wish to assure all Nigerians that the Commission is instituting an administrative inquiry as part of a comprehensive review of the Rivers re-run elections.

“Needless to say that any INEC staff found to have disobeyed clear rules and regulations will be appropriately sanctioned.”

Rivers rerun: APC reacts to leaked Wike’s audio

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The All Progressives Congress says the leaked audio recording in which the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, is heard admitting to bribing some electoral officials and threatening to kill them if his instructions were not followed, has confirmed the fears raised by the party ahead of December 10 legislative re-run elections in the state.

The party said that going by the revelations from the leaked audio recordings, it was obvious that Governor Wike may have engaged in unwholesome conducts that might have compromised the integrity of the electoral process and undermined his office as the Chief Security Officer of a state.

“The only logical conclusion from this therefore is that the electoral victories of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have been achieved through underhand dealings and intimidation of officials,” APC said.

“Nigerians have watched with grave concern how the process of the just concluded legislative rerun election has led to the death of ordinary citizens in the state including security officers.”

In an audio first published by SaharaReporters, Mr. Wike could be heard threatening to kill officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission whom he admitted giving money.

He said would “deal with” and “kill” officials who took money from him without doing his bidding.

“The statement that Governor Wike appeared to have made on record has now pointed directly at where responsibility should be placed for the violence that attended the election,” APC said Thursday.

“It is also evident that the allegations by the Rivers State government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of an assassination threat on Wike and the allegation by Wike that APC Governors funded violence in the state during the election might have been deliberately contrived to cover-up the role that the Governor had played in the violence that attended the election.

“The APC condemns any form of violence as it relates to elections or any other matter. In this instance, we urge security agencies to do the needful and ensure that sponsors and perpetrators of violence, no matter how highly placed, are brought to justice,” APC said.

Listen to the leaked audio below:

Wike did all he could to win Rivers re-run to remain Governor – Okorocha

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The Imo State Governor and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, has stated that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was desperate for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to win the just concluded re-run elections in Rivers because he (Wike) wants to remain Governor.

 

Speaking with newsmen in Owerri yesterday, Okorocha stated that his Rivers counterpart did all he could to secure his office by making sure that the PDP won majority of the senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats in the state.

 

“If the governor did not do that to make sure he has majority of state and National Assembly members, he would have gone,” the Progressives Governors Forum chair stated.

 

This was as he noted that it is not an easy thing to defeat an incumbent governor in an election because he would do all he could to remain in power.

 

Speaking on the just concluded governorship elections which went in favour of the APC, Okorocha maintained that it is a testimony that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government was doing well.

 

He went on to assert that the APC would take over the governorship in Anambra State in 2017, adding that “Anambra State needs APC governor to succeed.”

[LEAKED AUDIO]: Nyesom Wike Caught On Tape Arranging Bribery Of INEC Officials

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has been caught on tape as he held a telephone with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arranging payment to the officials in exchange for their help in rigging the recently concluded legislative elections in the state.

 

The telephone conversations, exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, revealed the governor arranging with INEC officials, particularly those sent from Plateau State, to rig the election for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Etche, Khana, Ikwerre and other key local government areas in the state.

 

One of Mr. Wike’s phone calls went to a female INEC official who was complaining that the money offered by the governor was not sufficient for the rigging task. An infuriated Governor Wike told the woman that he had already paid the electoral coordinator in Plateau State.

 

At one point in the conversation, when Governor Wike was told that one of the electoral officers was reluctant to sign one of the result sheets, the governor threatened to demand his money back from the recalcitrant official. Then, as if not satisfied with his threat to collect back his money, Mr. Wike voiced his intent to kill the official, stating that the man would not leave Rivers State alive.

 

The chilling telephone conversation has exposed the inner workings of Mr. Wike’s scheme to rig the recent election in his state and also the collusion of INEC officials in the illicit deals. Besides, the governor’s intimation of violence also pointed to the possible bloody nature of the games played between politicians who fund the rigging of elections and the electoral officials who facilitate the scheme for quick, and often substantial, cash payments.

 

SaharaReporters spoke to a top INEC official in Abuja who and he confirmed that most of the electoral officers who conducted the recently concluded legislative elections in Rivers State were drafted from Plateau and Oyo States. He added that some of the electoral officials were also drafted from one of the Southeastern states.

 

Rivers Rerun: PDP takes lead as more results are announced

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The Peoples Democratic Party has overtaken the All Progressives Congress as the Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday declared results of more constituencies in the Rivers State legislative rerun elections.

The process is now in its fourth day, and will extend to the fifth at least. Out of the 21 constituencies that went into the elections, final results of 12 have been declared with the PDP leading as of Tuesday evening.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how both parties stood after results of 10 constituencies were declared. At the time, PDP had two senatorial seats, two Reps seats and one State Assembly seat, while APC had one senatorial seat, two Reps seats and two State Assembly seats.

But results of two more constituencies – one federal constituency and one state constituency – were announced later Tuesday and PDP won the two.

In Opobo/Andoni/Nkoro federal constituency, PDP’s Awji Abante won with 16,234 votes, having defeated APC’s Samson Egop with 15,343.

In Andoni state constituency, PDP won with 10,729 to come ahead of APC that had 7,369.

As it stands, PDP has seven and APC follows with five.

PDP has two senatorial districts Rivers East and Rivers West), three federal constituencies (Okrika/Ogu-Bolo, Opobo/Andoni/Nkoro, and Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru) and two state constituencies (Andoni and Bonny).

PDP clinched one senatorial district that is Rivers South East, two federal constituencies (Gokana/Khana and Tai/Oyigbo/Eleme), and two state constituencies (Khana II and Gokana).

Nine results are still being expected from three federal constituencies and six state constituencies.

Ikwere/Emohua, Degema/Bonny, and Etche/Omuma federal constituencies are the remaining three from which final results are still being expected.

Also, Eleme, Asari-Toru I, Asari-Toru II, Etche II, Ikwere, and Degema are the remaining six state constituencies who results are being awaited.

The delay is a consequence of the widespread violence that marred the polls, INEC’s National Commissioner, Mustapha Lecky, said during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Rivers Rerun: Nigeria Police confirm killing of DSP, say others officers missing

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The Nigeria Police have confirmed that a deputy superintendent of police was killed during the rerun elections in Rivers State.

The police also confirmed that some other police officers who partook in the security arrangement for the election are still missing.

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, therefore said a high-powered investigation team has been directed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Mohammed Alkali and other missing officers during the re-run elections in Rivers State.

A statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Force spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Don Awunah, said Mr. Idris’ master plan on election security would continue to be improved upon for future elections

“This master plan will usher in credible, fair, free and acceptable elections in accordance with the principles of democratic policing and international best practices,” Mr. Awunah said.

He said some disgruntled elements in the state attempted to foist violence and insecurity on the populace that were generally peace loving.

“Comparatively, the re-run election was a huge success in contrast to past elections in the state that were usually characterised by violence and wanton destruction of lives and property,” he said.

The police chief expressed satisfaction with the performance of the police officers deployed to Rivers for the elections.

“The IGP condoles with the family for this great loss and identify with the grief of his colleagues,” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mr. Alkali was killed on election duty. He and his team were sabotaged at an ambush at Omoku, Onelga Local Government Area, a report by CLEEN foundation showed.

Mr. Awunah said the report by CLEEN Foundation, an NGO, that the elections were “marred by irregularities, violence, and open bias by security operatives and electoral personnel lacked substance.”

“It is a disservice to the evolving Nigerian democracy and sacrifice of the security personnel for the CLEEN Foundation report to assert that.

“It is also saddening for the CLEEN Foundation report to attribute the death of a police officer, DSP Mohammed in the course of duty to what the report termed “unwarranted use of force and shooting.

“It is a brazen display of insensitivity to the fallen officer and disrespect to the family.

“Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are our veritable partners; the extent to which they justify funding should not undermine national interest,” he said.

Contrary to the police’ claim, PREMIUM TIMES and other election monitors witnessed large scale connivance of the police and other security officials in the various malpractice that characterised the Rivers rerun election.

On Monday, Mr. Awunah said that the police chief wished to reassure Nigerians that enthronement of credible electoral process remained one of the police’s uppermost priorities.

“In addition, the I-G commends the good people of Rivers for the cooperation availed the police and other security agencies in the course of the re-run elections,” the spokesman added.

Three days after Rivers Rerun, INEC yet to announce several results.

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About three days after a total of 21 constituencies went into elections in Rivers State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is yet to announce final results for most of the areas.

On Saturday, December 10, 2016, INEC conducted the rescheduled Rivers national and state assemblies rerun and supplementary elections across three senatorial districts, eight federal constituencies and 10 state constituencies.

The voting exercise – and later counting of votes and collation of results – took place amid widespread violence that claimed lives, including police officers, irregularities and ‘overt’ bias by security operatives and electoral personnel, reports by the media and observer groups say.

Of the 21 constituencies, as of early Tuesday, results are only known for 10 – the three senatorial districts, four federal constituencies and three state constituencies.

PDP Surpasses APC In Senatorial Contests

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won senatorial elections in the Rivers East and Rivers West districts, leaving one, Rivers South East senatorial district, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

In Rivers South East, APC’s Magnus Abe clinched victory to earn a second term in the Senate. He polled 125,938 votes to trounce Olaka Nwogu of  the PDP  who garnered 25,394 votes, INEC said. The district witnessed cases of violence and irregularities with security operatives caught on video snatching election materials in Bodo, Gokana LGA and two persons dead in Luwii, Tai LGA amid gunfight.

Rivers East result was declared on Monday afternoon after confrontation between PDP members led by Governor Nyesom Wike and security operatives at the collation centre in Port Harcourt. There, PDP’s George Sekibo scored 93,098 votes to defeat APC’s Andrew Uchendu who had 34,193 votes. Arch rivals, Mr. Wike and his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, APC leader and Minister for Transport, are from Rivers East.

Shortly after return was made in Rivers East Monday afternoon, INEC announced Osinakachukwu Ideozu of the PDP winner in Rivers West, bringing PDP’s senatorial seats to two. Mr Ideozu scored 107,166 votes. He defeated Otelemaba Amachree of the APC who garnered 48,898 votes.

Parties reject opposing victories

PDP rejected the election of Mr. Abe as Rivers South East Senator-elect, saying there was no election in the zone; rather, INEC, Army and the Police aided APC to earn victory. The rejection came after Mr. Abe had urged PDP to accept his election, having been declared winner by INEC already. He said “Rivers people have suffered enough.”

But APC also vowed to legally challenge Mr. Sekibo’s election in the Rivers East. On Monday, Dakuku Peterside, an APC leader and NIMASA boss who was the party’s flag bearer in the 2015 governorship election, told journalists that results had not been conclusively collated in Etche, Port Harcourt City and Emohua LGAs, yet PDP was announced winner even without APC’s agent present.

FOUR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCIES SO FAR

APC candidates – Barry Mpigi and Maurice Pronen – were declared winners of elections to represent Tai/Oyigbo/Eleme and Gokana/ Khana federal constituencies respectively in the Federal House of Representatives.

Mr. Mpigi scored 48,760 votes to defeat PDP’s Jacobson Nbina with 11,737 votes, while Mr. Pronen had 68,219 votes to defeat Dum Dekor with 20,329.

In Okrika/Ogu/Bolo federal constituency, PDP claimed its first Reps seat in the rerun elections. PDP’s Gogo Tamuno with 11,668 voted defeated APC’s Maureen Tamuno who had 5,995.

Also, PDP’s Boma Goodhead won the Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru federal constituency. In the result announced by the Returning Officer on Monday at in Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA, Ms. Goodhead, said to be a younger sister to ex-militant, Asari Dokubo, scored 39,444 votes, to defeat APC’s Dewari George who had 8,817 votes.

Mr. Dokubo was said to have mobilised some supporters to the collation centre to demand result be announced after initial delay. Mr. Dokubo later joined his sister on street jubilation.

Eight federal constituencies went into the rerun and supplementary polls. With outcomes in four now declared – PDP and APC taking two each – results from the remaining four are being expected.

Ikwere/Emohua, Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni, Degema/Bonny, and Etche/Omuma federal constituencies are the remaining four from which final results are still being expected

STATE ASSEMBLY SEATS

It is only in three state constituencies that final results have been declared, with APC winning two, and PDP one.

In Khana state constituency II, APC’s Friday Nkeeh scored 15,000 votes to defeat PDP’s Dinebari Loolo who had 4,000 votes. Both winner and loser had round figures! In Gokana state constituency, APC’s Innocent Barikor won with 24,624 votes.

Bonny state constituency was won by the PDP. The party’s Abinye Pepple scored 6,610 to win the seat.

Thus, final results by INEC are being expected from seven state constituencies namely  Eleme, Asari-Toru I, Asari-Toru II, Andoni,, Etche II, Ikwere, and Degema.

Summarily, out of the 10 constituencies where results have been released so far, PDP and APC have five each. PDP has two senatorial seats, two Reps seats and one State Assembly seat, while APC has one senatorial seat, two Reps seats and two State Assembly seats.

The rerun polls were held following invalidation of the 2015 national and state assemblies elections in Rivers State. Although the elections had earlier been slated for March 19, violence marred the polls then, forcing INEC to suspend the exercise – and finally held during the week.

Rivers State has notorious history of electoral violence, and tough talks by opposing political actors helped stoke tension and prepare ground for violence that characterised the electoral exercise in the state on Saturday.

At least five persons lost their lives, but previous elections recorded greater tragedies. Although there were cases of overt bias, huge deployment of military and security personnel for the Saturday’s elections helped improve the security of exercise.

Fayose: Buhari has destroyed Jonathan’s legacy of free and fair elections.

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Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state governor, says President Muhammadu Buhari has destroyed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) legacy of free and fair election.

Fayose described Saturday’s rerun national and state house of assembly elections in Rivers state, as a “sad reminder of the level of destruction already done to the country’s electoral process by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Mohammadu Buhari”.

“Free, fair and credible election is dead in the country and that whatever victory that is recorded by any political party in the Rivers state election will be nothing but victory at gun point,” he said.

He said it was worrisome that “the legacy of free, fair and credible election left by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been destroyed less than two years that the APC assumed power”.

“We thought that we had gone past this era of manipulated electoral process after the 2015 general election, which brought the APC and President Buhari to power, but the Buhari’s administration has taken us back to the Stone Age by merging his party, APC with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, military, and other security agencies,” he said.

In a press statement issued on Sunday by Lere Olayinka, his special assistant on public communications and new media, Fayose said what happened in Rivers on Saturday is a clear indication that Nigeria is under siege and that “only prompt intervention by the international community can save democracy in the country from this imminent collapse”.

“It is sad that snatching of ballot boxes, hijacking of voting materials and electoral violence, which had become a thing of the past, have now become part of our electoral process,” he said.

“It is even more worrisome that despite that votes are counted openly at the polling units, electorates are no longer sure of the results of elections until announcement by INEC, which has become an organ of the APC.”

He described Buhari as “a pretender who has only paid lips service to the sustenance of democracy in the country”, adding that “any president that looks the other way while the rights of his people to freely elect their leaders is being snatched at gunpoint by his own party men is not worthy of being associated with democracy”.

He reiterated his call to the US president-elect, Donald Trump, to focus his attention more on Nigeria, with a view to saving the country from disintegrating, saying.

“God forbid, if Nigeria disintegrates, the entire continent of Africa will disintegrate,” he said.

“The order of the day in Nigeria now is disobedience to court orders, abuse of human rights, extra judicial killings and mass burial of innocent Nigerians killed by the army.

“The reality we must all face is that should all these be allowed to continue, Nigeria faces imminent danger and the international community must not allow the country to get to that level of total collapse before it begins to call President Buhari and his APC to order.”

BREAKING: PDP’s Sekibo wins Rivers east senatorial district

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared George Sekibo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the rerun election in Rivers east senatorial district.

 

Oji Ekumankama, returning officer of the election, announced this at council hall, Port Harcourt, venue of the collation, on Monday.

 

He said Sekibo polled 93,098 votes ahead of Andrew Uchendu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had 34,193 votes.

 

More to follow…

Army hits back at Wike, says governor’s allegations on election irregularities false.

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The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, has said that the allegations made by Governor Nyesom Wike and other politicians, accusing the military of involvement in the Saturday legislative re-run elections in the state are aimed at tarnishing the image of the army.

Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, the General Officer Commanding of the 6 division reacted to the allegations in a statement made available the Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Abdulkarim flatly denied accusations that soldiers were involved in mass killing and arrest at Tai and Gokhana Local Government Areas of Rivers.

“These people allegedly accused soldiers of ballot box snatching, illegal escorts of some politicians, arrest and detention of voters during the general conduct of the elections.

“The weighty nature of these allegations could cause members of the public to view soldiers negatively, hence the need to adequately inform the general public on the true perspective.

“The public thus need to consider them as mere farce to garner public sympathy,” the GOC said.

According to Abdulkarim, the 6 Division, Nigerian Army remained apolitical in the conduct of the election. Its soldiers provided perimeter defence to ward off hoodlums and miscreants.

He said that the troops were in no way involved in any form of ballot box snatching, neither were they involved in the escort of politicians as alleged.

“They acted swiftly in response to security breaches in order to enforce the law, provide aid to the police and other security agencies especially in areas like Abonema, Etche, Gokhana, Ikwere, Eleme, Tai, Khana and Omoku amongst others.

“Susceptibility of mentioned areas warranted providing security for the electoral officials, voters, international and local observers, in conjunction with other security agencies by soldiers for a peaceful election to thrive in the environment,” he said.

The GOC said those areas were violated by armed men, who engaged security personnel in shootout.

“In Gokhana, armed hoodlums engaged the soldiers providing outer perimeter defence for the electorates.

“In Abonema there were three explosions that created bedlam.

“Subsequently, 11 NYSC members were abducted along with electoral materials.

“However, 10 of them were rescued two hours later by the soldiers while one was rescued about eight hours later.

“At Emouh five NYSC members were abducted with election materials in a Siena bus.

“The corps members were rescued while the suspect was handed over to the police.

“Several shootings were recorded in some communities such as Bodo, the hometown of the Secretary to the State Government, and Mogho in Gokhana Local Government Area, including snatching of ballot boxes.

“The most brutal incidence occurred at Ujju Community near Omoku in Onelga where police patrol team was ambushed. In the ambush, 10 policemen scampered into the bush.

“These attacks are reasonable evidence of violations of breach of law and order which portray the area as a flash point.

“In spite this barbarism, soldiers acted with civility and professionalism in guaranteeing peaceful election,” he said.

Abdulkarim said that the army as a respected institution with constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property, could not watch miscreants and hoodlums abduct, maim and kill innocent citizens, especially “in senseless attacks.”

He described the accusations of soldiers partisanship as “sham and phoney”.

He said that the division would continue to remain apolitical in the discharge of its roles.

Rotimi Amaechi denies role in ‘hijacked’ Ikwerre results

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The Minister for Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has denied allegations that his actions led to the non-declaration of results in Ikwerre and Emohua Local government Areas.

Mr. Amaechi said the Independent National Electoral Commission should be allowed to announce results when it is ready.

Ikwerre and Emohua are two of eight LGAs that constitute Rivers East senatorial district.

While the results of six LGAs have been announced, with PDP winning all, there are uncertainties over the results of Ikwerre and Emohua LGAs.

Governor Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party accused Mr. Amaechi of using the Army and the Police to hijack Ikwerre results on Saturday night.

For Emohua, the governor and his spokesperson, Franklin Oraye, separately said that the military had taken over the collation centre to “concoct fake results”.

They said Mr. Amaechi, the APC leader, is being aided by the military and policemen as well as INEC to tamper with original results from the two LGAs in order to overturn PDP’s lead in the six LGAs already announced.

But Mr. Amaechi, Monday, told PREMIUM TIMES, the allegations against him were false.

He said INEC should be accorded the liberty to announce results freely, saying that Mr. Wike has no right to decide when INEC should release results.

Mr. Amaechi spoke through his spokesperson, David Iyiofor.

“The Minister is not aware of what Wike is talking about,” Mr. Iyiofor said in a text message.

“Wike must allow INEC to collate and announce the results of the rerun elections. As governor, Wike cannot be INEC or dictate to INEC how and when to announce election results.

“It’s sad, very sad that Wike is desecrating the office of the governor of Rivers State with all these spurious and silly allegations,” he said.

‘Political thugs’ murder senior police officer, orderly in Rivers

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Alkali Mohammed, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), met his untimely death in the hands of suspected hoodlums in the Omoku area of Rivers state, on Saturday.

 

Mohammed’s orderly, who was with him at the time of the unfortunate incident, was also killed.

 

Kasimu Abdulkarim, commander of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, disclosed this in a statement.

 

He said the attackers laid ambush for the deceased officers, who were on duty during the legislative rerun exercise.

 

Abdulkarim added that while three policemen escaped, five officers had been declared missing.

 

There was widespread violence during the election.

Magnus Abe: My victory is a reward for faithfulness.

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Magnus Abe, senator-elect of Rivers east, has described his victory in the legislative rerun election as a reward for faithfulness.

Expressing appreciation to his constituents, Abe said there is “no victor, no vanquish”.

He extended hands of fellowship to Olaka Nwogu, his opponent in the race, and called on Nyesom Wike, governor of the state to congratulate him on his victory.

Abe also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari; Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation; and his wife for the role they played in his emergence.

“First is to say that this has been a titanic struggle; it has been a very difficult two years for Rivers people and for all of us,” he said in a statement.

“My victory in this election is a reward for faithfulness. I have been faithful to my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).  I have been faithful to my people, the people of the Rivers south east senatorial district and I have been faithful to my leaders and I think God in his infinite mercies has rewarded me with this unprecedented victory. There is no victor, no vanquish.

“I want to thank my friend and brother, Distinguished Senator Olaka Nwogu for his very kind and peaceful words, which he has expressed to the people of this state.

“I also want to use this opportunity to extend a hand of friendship to the executive Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike and to say to him that he had promised that there was nothing personal in this contest and he has said that if I win he will congratulate me. The only barometer for measuring success in an election in this country is the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the commission has declared me the winner, I want to call on the governor to keep his words and send me his letter and words of congratulation because I have won.

“I want to also say that Rivers state has suffered enough and that it is time for us to bring this contest to an end.

“I want to thank my leaders, President Muhammadu Buhari, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, my wife, my family and most importantly, the people of Rivers south east senatorial district. You have spoken and you have spoken loud and clear. We should respect your views. We should work together to make this district a better place for Nigerians to live.

“I want to thank my colleagues in the senate for their kind words, friendship and support and I look forward to joining them in the red chamber as soon as possible.”

#RiversRerun: APC leads in Rivers East Senatorial district

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The All Progressives Congress is in clear lead in Rivers East Senatorial District after the re-run legislative elections conducted on Saturday.

 

Friday Nkeeh won the Rivers State House of Assembly seat for Khana Constituency 2. Nkeeh polled 15,000 votes to defeat Dinebari Loolo of the PDP, who scored 4,000 votes.

 

For House of Representatives, Hon. Maurice Pronen of the APC scored 68,219 votes while Dum Deekor of the PDP scored 20,329 votes for Khana/Gokana constituency.

Dr. Innocent Barikor of APC was also declared winner of the election with 24,624 votes in Gokana State Constituency, while Dr. Barry Mpigi of APC also won the Tai/Oyigbo/Eleme federal constituency seat.

 

As at the time of this report, APC had polled 48,760 votes to PDP’s 11,737, with the results from Emohua and Ikwere LGAs still being awaited.

#RiversRerun: Army denies killing, ballot snatching during election.

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The Nigerian Army has described as false the allegation that it was involved in alleged killings, ballot snatching and mass arrest during Saturday’s legislative rerun election.

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, explained that though soldiers provided security during the exercise, the claims by “some respected politicians” they were involved in unwholesome practices were targeted at tarnishing the image of the Army.

Abdulkarim, in a statement made available to our correspondent on Sunday via electronic mail, maintained that soldiers only provided perimeter defence to ward off hoodlums and miscreants.

He pointed out that the Nigerian Army had acted swiftly by providing aid to the Nigeria Police during the rerun election in response to security breaches in some areas.

“The alleged killing and mass arrest by soldiers in Tai and Gokana LGAs of Rivers State was false.

“These people allegedly accused soldiers of ballot box snatching, illegal escorts of some politicians, arrest and detention of voters during the general conduct of the elections.

“The weighty nature of these allegations could cause members of the public to view soldiers negatively, hence the need to adequately inform the general public on the true perspective.

The public thus need to consider them as mere farce to garner public sympathy.

“The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, remains apolitical in the conduct of the election. Its soldiers provided perimeter defence to ward off hoodlums and miscreants. Nigerian Army troops were in no way involved in any form of ballot box snatching, neither were they involved in the escort of politicians as alleged.

“They (soldiers) acted swiftly in response to security breaches in order to enforce the law, provide aid to the Nigeria Police and other security agencies especially in areas like Abonema, Etche, Gokana, Ikwere, Eleme, Tai, Khana and Omoku amongst others,” the statement read.

#RiversRerun: Governor Fayose asks Donald Trump to intervene.

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Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has described the Rivers National and State Houses of Assembly election rerun as disgraceful, asking the United States President-elect, Donald Trump, to quickly intervene in the affairs of Nigeria.

Fayose said this in a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, on Sunday.

The governor said President Muhammadu Buhari had compromised the Independent National Electoral Commission and taken Nigeria backward.

The statement read in part, “He (Fayose) reiterated his call to the United States of America’s President-elect, Mr Donald Trump, to focus his attention more on Nigeria, with a view to saving the country from disintegrating, saying; ‘God forbid, if Nigeria disintegrates, the entire continent of Africa will disintegrate’’’.

Fayose described the elections as a sad reminder of the level of destruction already done to the country’s electoral process by the All Progressives Congress.

He added, “Free, fair and credible election is dead in the country and that whatever victory that is recorded by any political party in the Rivers State election will be nothing but victory at gunpoint.”

The governor lamented that it was worrisome that the legacy of free, fair and credible election left by the Peoples Democratic Party had been destroyed less than two years that the APC assumed power,saying; “We thought that we have gone past this era of manipulated electoral process after the 2015 general elections, which brought the APC and President Buhari to power, but the Buhari administration has taken us back to the stone age by merging his party, APC with INEC, the police, military and other security agencies.”

The governor said it was sad that snatching of ballot boxes, hijacking of voting materials and electoral violence which had become a thing of the past have now become part of our electoral process.

“It is even more worrisome that despite the fact that votes are counted openly at the polling units, voters are no longer sure of the results of elections until announcement by INEC, which has become an organ of the APC,” the governor said.

BREAKING: INEC declares APC’s Magnus Abe winner of Senatorial district in #RiversRerun

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Magnus Abe, All Progressives Congress as the winner of the Rivers South East senatorial district election.

 

Professor Gideon Onuekwusi, the returning officer announced that Abe polled 125,938 votes while Olaka Nwogu of the PDP polled 25394 votes.

 

Abe had called for a rerun after losing in 2015.

APC sweeps Rivers south-east, Magnus Abe likely to return to senate

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Results trickling in from Rivers south-east senatorial district are in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with Magnus Abe, candidate of the party in the district, having a good chance to return to the upper chamber of the national assembly.

 

Abe lost the 2015 general election, but challenged the outcome of the exercise, which was eventually nullified and the appellate court, ordered a rerun.

 

APC cleared two federal constituencies in the district.

 

In Khana/Gokana, Maurice Pronem polled 68,219 votes to defeat Dumnamene Dekor, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 20,329 votes.

 

With 48,760 votes, Barry Mpigi of the APC defeated Jacobson Nbina, his PDP rival, who secured 11,737 votes in Tai/Oyigbo/Eleme.

 

In Khana state constituency 2, Friday Nkeeh of the APC defeated Dinebari Loolo of the PDP.

 

Nkeeh got 15,000 votes , while his opponent polled 4,000 votes.

#RiversRerun: INEC officials abandon returning officer at collation center

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Three staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) involved in the collation of results at Rivers East senatorial district have walked out on the returning officer.

The officials, who attempted to sneak out of council hall, Port Harcourt, venue of the exercise, left one after the other.

When TheCable approached the one who walked out last, he declined to speak.

Asked if the election had been declared inconclusive, he said: “I am not the one to decide that. The returning officer is still there.”

Responding to a question posed by this reporter, Oji Ekumankama, the returning officer, expressed worries.

“I am very disturbed at the moment,” he said.

“We just have to announce a winner. Even if everyone leaves, I will still remain here. As the returning officer, I have nowhere to go until the result is announced.

“I know that something is wrong somewhere, but this is our country, we will all do our best to develop it.”

Asked if he has communicated with appropraite authorities, he said: “They are aware.”

No sooner than the officials departed did agent of parties and journalists also made their way out.

Only the agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in the hall at the moment.

The collation commenced around 11pm on Saturday, and ended by 5:25am on Sunday.

The officials had announced that Ikwerre and Emouha were the only local governments of the eight in the district where results had not been declared.

They promised to make official announcement as soon as they got it.

However, around 10am, words went round that a powerful politician had hijacked the result of Ikwerre, where Nyesom Wike, governor of the state, and Rotimi Amaechi, hailed from.

TheCable made efforts to reach the duo for their reactions.

While Amaechi, who spoke through David Iyiofor, his media aide, denied the report, Wike could not be reached for comments.

Simeon Nwakaudu, his spokesman, did not respond to the mail sent.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Port Harcourt, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Obio Akpor, and Etche local governments – the six areas where results have been announced.

#RiversRerun: We’ll resist this invasion even it means losing our lives – Wike

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Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, on Saturday said in his entire political career, he has not witnessed the kind of military invasion that occurred during the legislative rerun election.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Wike vowed that he and his supporters would “resist to the last”.

He accused security operatives of conniving with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate voters.

“In all my political career, I have never experienced this kind of invasion by security agencies,” he said.

“What causes violence is when you give certain persons undue advantage, but be assured that we are resisting it, even though it may take our lives, we will resist to the last.

“That is what is expected when you are fighting for freedom. You must make sacrifices. It is unfortunate that we are congratulating the opposition for winning in Ghana, but here the military are directly involved in rigging and hijacking materials.

“They say that they want to give Rivers state governor problems, but you are not giving Rivers governor problems, you are giving Nigeria problem.

“I anticipated it. I tried to let the world to know that these were the plans of the security agencies.”

Violence and late arrival of electoral materials marred the exercise in different parts of the state.

One person was killed in Bodo community in Gokana local government, while the exercise did not hold in most parts of Khana local government.

#RiversRerun: 3 Persons Injured as PDP and APC Supporters Clash in Opobo

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There was pandemonium and chaos in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State after APC and PDP supporters clashed.

 

Three persons were left critically injured after supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress have clashed at ward 7 unit 9 in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State.

 

According to Punch, the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASSA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who hails from the area has reportedly visited the the scene of the clash.

 

When contacted Peterside said, “Opobo/Nkoro is peaceful generally now. We observed that they imported some people from outside the LGA.

 

“Election materials for one unit was hijacked by some boys, but the security agencies have recovered them. Materials have arrived and it (election) is going orderly for now.”

#Rivers Rerun: We did not deploy drones to monitor elections – Austin Tam-George

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According to information made available to Omojuwa.Com by some electorates this morning, drones were sighted hovering above polling units in parts of Rivers State. Most people opined that the state government deployed the said drones as part of extra efforts to monitor the ongoing rerun elections in the state.

 

However, in a swift reaction to the speculations, Austin Tam-George, Rivers commissioner for information, says the state government did not deploy drones to monitor the rerun election.

 

“That is a lie, we never contemplate using drones to monitor the elections, we are interested in following, casting our votes and ensuring they count.“

RiversRerun: Result sheets snatching at Ahoda East LGA and Etche LGA

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Kingsley Chinda, PDP agent in Rivers state, has lodged a formal complaint of ballot box snatching at INEC headquarters in Port Harcourt.

 

According to Chinda, result sheets were snatched at a ward in Ahoda east LGA and three wards in Etche LGA.

 

Meanwhile, Election could not hold in Ward 12, Unit 1, Khana local government area, due to the hijack of electoral materials.

 

Also, Wilson Akanya from Ward 8, Unit 7, Khana LGA, said there was no voting in the entire area.

Group Commends Rivers Voters, Condemn Attack On Voters

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The Civil Society Alliance for Sustainable Democracy (CSASD) have raised alarm over reported cases of ballot snatching by thugs and intimidation of eligible voters by Policemen in the ongoing Rivers rerun election.

In a statement issued this afternoon in Port Harcourt and signed by its publicity secretary,  Comrade Femi Lawson, the group wondered what could be the basis of the open collaboration between the Police and the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the ongoing elections, judging by the seen cases of the arrest of agents of the opposition PDP, and other compromises being done by the security agents on the directives of the notable Chieftains of the APC, at the polling centres.

The group commended the people of Rivers State for their steadfastness and peaceful conduct so far,  while also praising their courage in resisting various attempts to hijack the ballot or disrupt the process in some parts of Obiakpor Local government, and few other areas in the State.

However, it was gathered that SARS personnel (Police)  controlled by Akin Fakorede allegedly snatch materials in Bodo City, Gokana LGA resulting in a seemingly breakdown of law and order.

[UPDATE] #RiversRerun: Hoodlums Snatch Ballot Boxes At Etche LGA

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The ongoing River State re-run election is experiencing violence and ballot snatching, report says.

It was reported that there are no ballot boxes in PU32/11/13/012, Ulakwo Ward, Etche LGA. Voters are casting their votes into sack bags

But an observer group, the Independent Service Delivery and Monitoring Group (ISDMG which deployed obervers and election monitor to the election said the ballot boxes were snatched by hoodlums but voters in the area insisted on going ahead with the election.

According to ISDMG Director Communications/Team Leader, Faith Nwadishi the INEC deployed election material to the polling unit just like in every other polling unit but the ballot boexes were snatched by hoodlums.

There were also reports of bombing in Bera, Gokana Local Government Area of the State.

It was also gathered that militants blocked Asari Toru waterways.

Rivers Rerun: U.S., UK, French, EU envoys express concern over rising tension

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The Ambassadors of the United States, United Kingdom, France and European Union on Friday expressed concern over the rising tension in the run up to the re-run national and state assemblies’ elections in Rivers State on Saturday.

The Ambassadors in a Joint statement urged politicians and the various political parties to give peace a chance.

“We note with concern the rising tension in Rivers State ahead of elections on 10 December. We call on the leadership of all political parties and their supporters in Rivers state to allow elections to go ahead peacefully.

“We encourage INEC and the security forces to perform their duties responsibly and impartially. We urge all parties to respect the electoral process and raise any grievances peacefully and through official channels.

“We stress that the leaders of all parties are accountable for the actions of their members and we encourage them to urge their supporters not to use or incite violence”, the envoys said in the statement.

The statement was signed by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright; United States Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington; French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Guaer, and the EU Head of Delegation to Nigeria, Michel Arrion.

The various seats available are expected to be straight battles between the ruling PDP in Rivers and Nigeria’s ruling APC.

Buhari: Rivers rerun not a do-or-die affair

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President Muhammadu Buhari has called for peaceful and orderly conduct in the federal and state legislative rerun elections in Rivers state on Saturday.

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – the two major parties in the state – have vowed to match violence with violence in the election.

 

But Buhari said it should not be a do-or-die affair.

 

In a statement issued by Femi Adesina, his media aide, on Friday, the president urged all political parties, their candidates, other stakeholders and the people of the state to ensure that the polls are conducted without rigging, violence and intimidation of opponents and electoral officials.

 

He reminded politicians and their supporters in Rivers state to put the higher interest of the people of the state in mind, as they go to the polls on Saturday.

 

“The rerun elections should not be seen as a do-or-die affair to the extent that people will be killed, maimed and property destroyed in a mindless display of crude primitive instincts. Innocent blood should never be sacrificed on the altar of political contest for temporary power,” he warned.

 

While calling on security and law enforcement agencies to exhibit professionalism and non-partisanship in the discharge of their constitutional duties even in the face of extreme provocations, Buhari directed them to deal decisively with trouble-makers and those bent on violating the sanctity of the electoral process.

 

He also enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do all within its powers to give transparency and fairness to the electoral exercise in Rivers state.

 

The president restated the commitment of his administration to deepening democracy in the country by enthroning a legacy of respect for the wishes of the people through free, fair and credible elections devoid of intimidation and violence throughout the federation.

Rivers Rerun: INEC, Security Agencies Meet With Political Parties

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the various security agencies, as well as political party leaders and their candidates have met again in continuous efforts to ensure that Saturday’s rerun polls in Rivers state are hitch-free.

 

With the poll already generating tension, the Deputy Inspector General Of Police in Charge of Operations, Joshak Habila, said no group would be allowed to cause violence during the exercise.

 

Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Aniedi Ikoiwak, has equally given the assurance that the commission is ready for the polls.

 

This is not the first time the commission is making the pledge to ensure that the December 10, Rivers Rerun elections, would be free, fair and violence free.

 

The emphasis is coming as a result of series of allegations by the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike, who has said INEC, as well as security agencies have planned to rig the elections.

 

INEC in an earlier statement, however pointed out that the recent Edo and Ondo governorship elections “eloquently speak of the feat that can be achieved if all stakeholders do the needful”.

 

The Commission, then condemned the relentless false allegations, provocative and dangerous comments being made by some political actors, especially Mr Wike, against the Commission, which it insisted were capable of inciting people to commit violent acts that could derail the election.

Wike declares 3 days fasting for Rivers rerun.

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The administration of Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has declared a three-day fasting to “seek God’s intervention” for peace and order ahead of the December 10 legislative rerun election.

 

Austin Tam-George, commissioner for information, disclosed this in a statement, saying the spiritual exercise will hold between Wednesday and Friday.

 

He said Wike had pleaded with residents and churches in the state to actively participate in the spiritual exercise.

 

“The fasting will involve churches and residents of the state; the essence is to seek God’s divine intervention in the election,” he said.

 

“We know that when we seek the face of God, He will cause our state to have a peaceful rerun election and no principality or power can stand Him.”

 

He enjoined the people to engage in acts capable of promoting peace during the election.

 

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concerns over the high level of violence in the state.

Alleged Plot To Rig Rivers Rerun As Wike Wants Buhari To Prosecute Dakuku, Others

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Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari  to take action against the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over their alleged plot to rig the December 10, 2016 State and National Assemblies rerun polls in Rivers State.
The Governor, who briefed reporters in Government House, Port Harcourt, over the arrest of a syndicate that prints fake INEC result sheets in Port Harcourt, expressed disappointment that the Commissioner of Police said he was under pressure to free the suspects of the alleged crime.
He described electoral fraud as a corrupt practice that Mr. President would frown at, and said that individuals who wanted to deny the people of Rivers the right to vote for the candidates of their choice won’t escape the President’s hammer.
Wike alleged that the person who awarded the contract for the fake result sheets, Emmanuel Chinda, the former Commissioner of Agriculture in former Governor Rotimi Amaechi;s administration, is a top member of the APC, but has not been arrested due to pressures on the CP.
He noted that Buhari would act because when he complained to him that bail out refund was being deducted from the state’s account despite not collecting bail out fund in the first instance, the President prevailed and the deduction was stopped.
He said: “They want us to take the laws into our hands. But we won’t do that. I am sure that the President will not take lightly what has just happened. INEC and APC want to rig the rerun at all cost…
“Buhari will never support this if informed. We believe that this is part of the corruption that is being fought. We want the public to know that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP will resist any attempt to rig the election.
“It is unheard of for a party to collude with INEC and deny the people their votes. I am in support of the President’s fight against corruption. We stand for peace, and want the world to know what is going on here.”
He added: “Each time Rivers is mentioned, they cite violence. But they are the ones causing the violence through their actions. When you print fake result sheets and you think we won’t resist it.
“The police, INEC and APC are threatening the security of Rivers State. I have written more than 15 letters to the Inspector General of Police complaining of dubious postings. But the IG never listened to me..,
“But you cannot kill everybody at the same time. Everybody knows that the APC cannot win here. They are only giving themselves false hope.
“Let me see that INEC official that will come and rig the election. If you rig the election, you rig your life. If you like come with the American Marines, we will resist them. We said we want change, so the people must be allowed to vote.”

Credit:

http://dailytimes.ng/alleged-plot-rig-rivers-rerun-wike-wants-buhari-prosecute-dakuku-others/