The officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers State have been accused of planning with the state Governor, Nyesom Wike to truncate the electoral process in the state.
The allegation was placed forward by the Coalition of Governorship Candidates and Party Chairmen in Rivers State.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Efangha was accused of working with the Peoples Democratic Party to truncate the outcome of the election.
These was disclosed during a press briefing in Port Harcourt not too long ago by Pastor Warigbani Ezekiel Zebulun, who happens to be the chairman of the coalition.
The governor was accused to have led security aides to retrieve results sheets of Obio-Akpor local government council during collation of results.
While , Zebulun challenged INEC not to use the suspension as a plan to manipulate the election in favour of Governor Wike.
He added that the same took place during the “Port Harcourt Constituency Three bye-election where INEC failed to announce results because PDP lost”.
However, he said that they condemn in strong terms the inordinate and unpatriotic actions of the Governor of Rivers State and gubernatorial candidate of PDP Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, who stooped too low to personally hijack the election result sheets and materials meant for Obio/Akpor LGA during which process, an Army officer was shot by his thugs.
He said that this acts has confirm their earlier allegations against the Wike-led State government of gun running.
“It is on record that the State Governor had earlier in his speech commended INEC for her free, fair and credible conduct of the election in the State.”
“We, therefore, express shock at his call for the cancellation of the exercise, as his shameful act of thuggery greets his imminent defeat. On the premise of this ugly and shameful acts, the collation of results has been suspended by INEC.” Zebulun said.
Speaking on,
He said that the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC Rivers State had earlier appointed a younger brother to the Rivers South East senatorial District Candidate of PDP, who also is a strong member of PDP as the returning officer for Khan’s local Government area. The REC also in his voodoo dance appointed PDP members as returning officers for Emohua, Eleme, Andoni, OKRIKA, Omuma, and some other Local Government Area with an instruction to deliver the PDP.
Also he added that in the spirit of fairness that they are calling on the National Chairman of INEC Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to, as a matter of urgency, redeploy the State Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Rivers State to enable the new REC to continue the electoral process.
He commended the Army for the display of professionalism and ensuring adequate security before, during and after the election, and urge them to keep it up.
