A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Rivers State, Joe Korka-Waadah, has appealed to the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, to ensure every vote counts in next year’s elections.
Korka-Waadah, gave the charge after the swearing-in of Sinikiem and 18 other RECs in Abuja by Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Yakubu Mahmood, Thursday.
Sinikiem, a former Cross Rivers state REC is among the five RECS reappointed ahead of 2023 general 3lections in the country.
Speaking, the oversea based politician urged the new State REC to be , “Wary in officiating on your new turf. If you’ve been superintending in Cross River which is not so far away, you should know that Rivers is a complex, volatile field to supervise elections.
“Your INEC team on ground in Rivers will sure intimate on how the shades of pressures a Rivers REC can be subjected has unsettled carriers of some previous RECs and team leaders in INEC Rivers. It’s up to you to leave a positive legacy or bow to pressure and leave in shame.
“So my advice to you, Mr Commissioner, is Rivers people have one expectation and one expectation only from you. That is to ensure that every vote cast for the 2023 elections count. The only way you can achieve that is by being as honest and transparent as possible in managing the process.
“Don’t yield or be moved by dictates of the state government or inducements from desperate politicians. Stick to your oath of office in good conscience to conduct an election that would record your name in the history books in glittering ink.”
Furthermore, he said, “We also expect Sinikiem to boost voter education on resumption, particularly in ensuring that Rivers voters come forth to pick up thousands of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) yet uncollected at the INEC Rivers.
“With BVAS, we believe 2023 is the year for APC to takeover Rivers, because we are assured the votes will count, the days of electoral robberies in Rivers are over. With this assurance, Tony Cole, our APC guber candidate, Oji Ngofa (Rivers South East senatorial flag bearer) and all other candidates will triumph to transform Rivers our dreams.”