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Tag: AAC

  • Osun 2026: 39-year-old entrepreneur emerges AAC guber candidate

    Osun 2026: 39-year-old entrepreneur emerges AAC guber candidate

    A 39-year-old entrepreneur, Olajide Esan, on Saturday emerged as the governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) for 2026 Osun State Governorship election. 

    Esan, who is also a car dealer, emerged through a consensus arrangement of the party which was monitored by the officials of Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC). 

    The Osun State Chairman of AAC, Tayo Adeyemi, addressing newsmen after the primary held at the party’s secretariat, Powerline area, Osogbo, declared that Esan emerged with the backing of party members across the state. 

    He noted that the exercise is free, fair and credible which is a reflection of the party’s democratic ideal. 

    In his acceptance speech, Esan said, “The big political parties are oppressing us in this nation. Their type of leadership has weaponise poverty, they have subjugated the public by oppressing them. We have a systemic problem in Nigeria. The system of this country has set us all up to become criminals. 

    “We must fight this. The current leadership will not do the right thing for us as citizens because it will not pay them. We must collectively enthroned good leadership. 

    When elected, I will create a ministry to check every citizen, to advocate for good welfare.”

    He charged Osun residents and electorate to enthrone AAC in 2026 contest by uniting against APC, PDP Accord party, saying, “AAC will embark on voter education. Don’t think that saviour is coming from outside. I am here for service. 

    “My government will create a website that we will display all the public funds. You will all see how money is been spent. We must condemn vote buying at all costs. We have arrangement within our party to fight vote buying. 

    “The system of this country will frustrate potential in youths. Our mission is to take government from criminals and give it to the general public,” he added.

  • Alleged false claim against Tinubu: Sowore, Meta, X get new date for arraignment

    Alleged false claim against Tinubu: Sowore, Meta, X get new date for arraignment

    The planned arraignment of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2023 Omoyele Sowore and two others before a Federal High Court in Abuja has been postponed to December 2 owing to his absence in court.

    Sowore was to be arraigned along with X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp on a five-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN).

    Sowore is accused of making a false claim against the person of President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal in a post he made on his X and Facebook accounts.

    The defendants are, in the charge, accused of contravening the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Criminal Code Act. 

    At the mention of the case on Wednesday, lawyer to the prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde, (SAN) said the business of the day was the arraignment of the defendants.

    Kehinde noted that the other defendants were present in court except the first defendant (Sowore), who was not only  absent, but also not represented by a lawyer.

    He told the court that the prosecution got a letter on Tuesday night from “one Deji Adeyanju,” who claimed to be the lead lawyer to the first defendant and requested for an adjournment.

    Kehinde said the letter was a ploy to delay the proceedings, adding that it was the prosecution’s position that the letter was grossly in bad faith and meant to further delay hearing in the case. 

    He recalled that the arraignment could not hold on September 30 because Sowore claimed that he had not been served, even “though the charge was already in the media and the defendant was in court.

    “This is a disrespect to this court and it is time your lordship issue a bench warrant for him so that he should be kept in custody until next adjourned date so that nobody will be looking for him,” he said.

    Kehinde further urged the court to ignore Adeyanju’s letter, describing it as “a mischievous letter.”

    He noted that all court documents filed before on behalf of Sowore were by Femi Falana (SAN) as lead lawyer and prayed the court to disregard Adeyanju’s letter and issue the bench warrant.

    Lawyer to Facebook,  Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo (SAN), agreed with Kehinde’s position and noted that the letter he also received from Adeyanju was disrespectful to the parties and the court.

    Tayo-Oyetibo told the court that he travelled from Lagos for the hearing and received the letter at Abuja airport on Tuesday. 

    He added that the letter appeared to refer to a different case, as it mentioned November 4 as against November 5, adding that despite their assumption that the hearing date was November 4, neither Sowore nor his lawyer came to court.

    Tayo-Oyetibo claimed that Sowore has accused him on social media of taking side with the Federal Government against him.

    The second defendant’s lawyer said he was not objecting to the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant.

    Read Also: Sowore escapes arrest warrant, Court fixes December 2 for arraignment

    Lawyer to X Incorp, Christabel Ndokwelu said her client has not been properly served with the charge, though it was served with a notice November 5 hearing.

    Ndokwelu urged the court to direct the prosecution to ensure proper service and said his client was not ready for arraignment.

    Following Ndokwelu’s claim, Justice Mohammed Umar went through the court’s file and found that Facebook and X were served electronically.

    Ruling, Justice Umar noted that there was no need to rush and declined to issue the bench warrant sought by the prosecution.

    The judge directed the prosecution to serve Ndokwelu with a copy of the charge in the courtroom.

    He ordered that Sowore’ should be served with a hearing notice and adjourned till December 2 for arraignment.

  • Bring perpetrators, sponsors of cultism in Rivers to book, AAC’s Awara tells FG

    THE governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers State, Biokpmabo Awara, has urged the Federal Government to bring to book the perpetrators and sponsors of cultism in the state. He made the call yesterday in an online statement. His words: “I condemn in its entirety, the killings taking place in different parts of Rivers State, as a result of cult-related activities.

    “It is quite unfortunate that our dear Rivers State will be experiencing this level of insecurity at this point in time, when other states are working very hard to enhance their economies and promote development”.

    Read also: My life under threat, says Awara

    “The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari should come to the rescue of Rivers people, since it is now obvious that the Rivers State government cannot  address insecurity in our state. “Inability of the Nyesom Wike’s adminstration to meaningfully engage the youths, by providing employment opportunities for them, has snowballed into the state of insecurity in Rivers State.”

  • Court dismisses AAC’s suit against Rivers election

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by the African Action Congress (AAC) and one other, querying the propriety of handling of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, particularly as it relates to the announcement of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Justice Inyang Ekwo yesterday said the since the case was about an election that had been held, it was appropriate for the plaintiffs to take their case before an election tribunal.

    The suit has AAC, Biokpomabo Festus Awara and Pastor Ben-Gurion John Peter as plaintiffs, with INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as defendants.

    The plaintiffs said INEC had earlier admitted that the election was marred by violence which compromised its credibility, and so it suspended the election.

    Red also: Rivers Polls: Wike, AAC’s Awara clash at stakeholders meeting

    They added that without calling for a fresh election, INEC announced that it was set to continue with the election from March 20.

    The plaintiffs prayed the court for, among others, an order cancelling the already held Governorship and House of Assembly elections, and an order directing the conduct of fresh elections.

    Justice Ekwo said the reliefs sought by the plaintiff’s, which include prayers for the cancellation of an already-held election and the stoppage of further collation of results of the election, are post-election in nature.

    He said such prayers, on which the electoral tribunal has exclusive jurisdiction, could not be entertained by the regular courts.

    Justice Ekwo said his court has no jurisdiction to grant any of the prayers contained in the plaintiffs’ originating process.

    According to him, the court has earlier held in a similar case, that once an election has been held, the Federal High Court no longer has jurisdiction to entertain and determine any litigation touching on such election.

    Justice Ekwo said the case by the AAC and others was an attempt to litigate election issues in disguise.

    According to him, hearing the case will amount to an attempt by the court to constitute itself into an election tribunal, “a capability it does not have constitutionally”.

    He said: “I find that issues in this case are post-election in nature and do not belong to the realm of this court. Therefore, the preliminary objection of the second defendant succeeds and accordingly, I declare jurisdiction.

    “Now, it is the law that where the preliminary objection succeeds, there is no need to go further to consider arguments in support of other issues or issues for determination.

    “So, at this point, I make an order dismissing this case for want of jurisdiction.”

  • Updated: Court dismisses AAC’s suit against Rivers election

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by the African Action Congress (AAC) and one other, querying the propriety of handling of the last governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State, particularly as it relates to its announcement of the results, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on Tuesday said the since the case was about an election that has been held, it was appropriate for the plaintiffs to take their case before an election tribunal.

    The suit, marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/303/2019, has AAC, Engr Biokpomabo Festus Awara and Pastor (Dr.) Ben-Gurion John Peter as plaintiffs, with INEC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The plaintiffs noted INEC had earlier admitted that the election in Rivers State was marred with substantial violence that compromised the credibility of the entire process, and thereby suspended the election.

    They added that without calling for a fresh election, INEC announced, via a press release, that it was now set to continue with the election from Wednesday, 20th March 20 19.

    The plaintiffs prayed the court for, among others, an order cancelling the already held governorship and state assembly’s elections and an order directing the conduct of fresh elections.

    Justice Ekwo, in the judgment, said the reliefs sought by the plaintiff’s, which include prayers for the cancellation of the election already held and the stoppage of further collation of results of the election, are post-election in nature.

    He said such prayers, on which the electoral tribunal has exclusive jurisdiction, could not be entertained by the regular courts.

    The judge said his court has no jurisdiction to grant any of the prayers contained in the plaintiffs’ originating process.

    He said the court has earlier held in a similar case, that once an election has been held, the Federal High Court no longer has jurisdiction to entertain and determine any litigation touching on such election.

    Justice Ekwo said the case by the AAC and others was an attempt to litigate election issues in disguise.

    He said the hearing the case will amount to an attempt by the court to constitute itself into an election tribunal, “a capability it does not have constitutionally.

    “I find that issues in this case are post-election in nature and do not belong to the realm of this court.

    “Therefore, the preliminary objection of the second defendant in this case succeeds and accordingly, I declare jurisdiction.

    “Now, it is the law that where the preliminary objection succeeds, there is no need to go further to consider arguments in support other issues or issues for determination.

    “So, at this point, I make an order dismissing this case for want of jurisdiction,” Justice Ekwo said.

  • Rivers: INEC to resume collation of of March 9 elections results

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will resume the collation of election results as planned, it was learnt.

    The commission last week fixed 2nd to 5th of April for resumption of collation of results of the last governorship and state Assembly elections.

    INEC also noted that election had been concluded in 21 state constituencies and fixed 13th April 2019 should there be any need for supplementary election.

    The collation of the results for the election held on March 9 was suspended due to violence allegedly carried out by soldiers and armed thugs. Consequently, the Commission set up a Fact-Finding Committee that visited Rivers State and submitted its report which revealed that while election could not hold in a few areas, it was successfully concluded in others with the declaration of winners in 21 state constituencies. Collation was ongoing at the time of the suspension of the process.

    Announcing the outlined activities and timeline to resolve the electoral logjam in Rivers State, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the commission will on 30th March 2019 have a meeting with critical actors in the state after which the headquarters of the commission will release a guideline for the continuation of the process.

    Read also: 2019 general elections was free, fair – CODER

    The meeting, however, turned rancorous as stakeholders exchanged hot words, which threw up fears that the exercise might be affected.

    But the Commission said yesterday that it will resume the collation of results despite calls for the fresh election and rancorous stakeholders meeting at the weekend.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Commission Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi said rachour among political parties during a stakeholders’ meeting before any major election is a common phenomenon.

    Oyekanmi, therefore, said whatever might have transpired during the stakeholders meeting in Rivers at the weekend was not enough to alter INEC timeline to conclude the election in the state.

    He said, “Regardless of their drama, however, the Commission will go ahead with its schedule of activities for the resumption of collation and conduct of supplementary elections where necessary in Rivers State.”

    He added that whatever position taken by the parties at the stakeholders meeting will absolutely not have any impact on the plan of the commission.

    He stressed, ” It does not change anything. The Commission will go ahead with its plan.”

    Oyekanmi explained further that “Rancour among political parties during a stakeholders’ meeting before any major election is a common phenomenon. At most of this type of meeting the Commission organized before any of the governorship election the conducted over the last 3 years, it has been the same story. Political parties regrettably bring their bitter differences to the meeting, but this is very unfortunate. They need to show maturity and stop this unnecessary bickering that will lead them nowhere.”

    Speaking on the call for withdrawal of Mrs May Agbamuche Mbu, INEC National Commissioner who chaired the stakeholders meeting in the absent of Chairman of the Commission, Okoye said that INEC will not abdicate its constitutional and statutory responsibility and create a constitutional crisis.

    He stressed that the “Commission is determined to conclude the collation of results for State Assembly and Governorship elections in Rivers State. The Commission is courageously following its timetable and schedule of activities outlined for the conclusion of the collation and electoral process in Rivers State.

    The process of collation and conclusion of the process is transparent and painstaking. All the critical stakeholders in the electoral process are involved in the process leading to the final collation of results. It is the constitutional and statutory responsibility and mandate of the Commission to organize and superintend elections.

    It is the responsibility of the Commission to collate and announce the results of elections and the Commission does not share this responsibility with anyone, body, institution or agency. The Commission will conclude the collation of results before pulling out of Rivers State. The resolve of the Commission is to transparently collate the results and announce the results.

    The Commission is the regulator of political parties and sets the parameters for the conclusion of the process based on the law and the constitution. The Commission will not abdicate its constitutional and statutory responsibility and create a constitutional crisis. ”

    On the staged walked out by some governorship candidates in the polls under the umbrella of Coalition of Governorship candidates, Okoye said “Each Political Party is a legal entity registered by the Commission in accordance with the constitution and the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended).

    The Commission did not register any Political Party known as Coalition of Governorship Candidates and does not deal with any coalition. The Commission extended invitation for the stakeholders meeting to registered political parties and they attended the stakeholders meeting in that capacity.

    All the candidates in the election filed their nominations under the banner and platform of their respective parties. Our plea is that all the candidates and political parties should cooperate with the Commission for the expeditious conclusion of the collation process. Although protests and walkouts are part of the democratic process, it should be employed in a manner that serves the national interest.”

    On Zamfara state, he said “the issue of the electoral fortune of the APC in Zamfara State is before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The Commission is a law-abiding institution and will prefer to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter. The Commission will not make any comment that will prejudice the due determination of the suit in the Supreme Court.”

  • APC kicks as INEC resumes collation of Rivers gov poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against plans by top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to favour Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during tomorrow’s resumption of collation of results of March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Its Rivers Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, also accused Wike of desperation to be re-elected.

    The party said: “We condemn in strong terms, the so-called timeline and activities to conclude the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, as announced at the stakeholders meeting.

    “It is a mere charade, well-organised and choreographed by INEC, in its bid to work from answer to question.

    “The ultimate result can only be to announce their (INEC’s) preferred partner and collaborator (Wike) as the winner against the AAC’s governorship candidate (Awara), who was clearly in the lead before collation was aborted (on March 10).

    “Whether INEC will succeed in its machinations will be seen in the days to come.

    Read also: APC leaders adopt Obaseki as sole candidate for 2020 Edo election

    “Several actions of INEC had prepared the minds of many that the entire exercise was skewed to favour Wike and the PDP, leaving in the process, several questions without answers.

    “How come that Wike knew about the 17 local government areas, which results had been allegedly collated and had posted same on his (Wike’s) official Twitter handle, long before INEC made the announcement?

    “Answers to this and other questions will continue to hang on the neck of INEC like an albatross.”

    The main opposition APC also stated that what was happening in Rivers state was in complete fulfilment of the tripartite collaboration between Wike, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga and Administrative Secretary, Elder Etim Umoh.

    But Wike dismissed the allegations as senseless and meaningless.

    Speaking through Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, the governor said: “The APC’s accusation that INEC is favouring Governor Wike does not hold water.

    “It is the same old song; empty, meaningless and senseless. Majority of Rivers people do not take the APC in the state seriously.

    “They (APC members in Rivers State) blame everybody, apart from themselves, for every problem. When they had internal problems that cost them their place in the ballot, they blamed others.

    “When their adopted puppet in AAC could not win one unit in the state, because he was unknown and never campaigned, the APC blamed others.”

  • PDP cautions AGF Malami on Rivers election

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Attorney General and Minister of Justice (AGF) Abubakar Malami SAN, against attempts to scuttle the collation of results of the March 9 governorship election in Rivers State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had suspended collation of the results as a result of the violence that characterised the election. The commission has fixed April 2-5 for the resumption of collation and declaration of winner.

    But in a statement, Sunday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition party said Malami must exercise restraint and should not allow himself to be used to foist any unconstitutional act regarding the Rivers election.

    The party hinged its caution to Malami on alleged statement by the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, to the effect that AGF Malami was working on how to write to the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu directing him to stop the collation of the Rivers election results.

    The PDP reminded Malami that there is no provision of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) or any part of the Electoral Act 2010 (as Amended) that, in anyway, empowers the AGF to interfere or stop the process of election until declaration of result is made.

    Read also: APA to Buhari: don’t forget your promise to run inclusive govt

    “It is imperative for the AGF to note that Rotimi Amaechi, in his desperation, will want to rope him in and use him to cause a constitutional crisis that has the capacity to derail our democracy.

    “The constitution and laws of our nation are clear on the powers and statutory functions of the Attorney General and that he has no powers to interfere in the conduct of elections or direct the stoppage of an electoral process.

    “The AGF should, therefore, distance himself from the ignoble scheme by Rotimi Amaechi to cause trouble in Rivers state by attempting to scuttle the collation of results in the Rivers governorship election, which has been clearly won by the PDP and Governor Nyesom Wike”, the statement added.

    The PDP also charged INEC to save the nation any constitutional crisis by asserting its independence in concluding the collation process as well as respecting the will of the people.

  • Please let’s conclude Rivers gov poll, Yakubu begs Wike, Awara, others

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahood Yakubu, on Saturday appealed to the emotional side of Rivers indigenes.

    He begged them to allow the commission conclude collation of the March 9 exercise.

    Yakubu spoke at a stakeholders meeting with key actors in the governorship poll in Port-Harcourt.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) Biokpomabo Awara as well as security operatives and political parties were part of the parley.

    Yakubu said: “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the good people of Rivers State, our traditional rulers, market women, youths, leaders and members of political parties in the state, including the candidates in the elections and all other stakeholders to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the elections by the commission.

    “We do not have any other state, apart from Rivers State, to call our own. Let us join hands together to make Rivers State even greater.

    “On the part of the commission, I wish to assure you of our commitment to free, fair and credible elections.

    “We intend to keep these promises. May God, in His kindness, grant Rivers State perpetual peace.”

    Read also: Wike, Awara clash at stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt

    The INEC chairman, who was represented by National Commissioner of the commission in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu, assured the results of the March 9 poll have not been altered.

    According to him: “The results of the March 9 elections in Rivers State are with us (INEC) in our strong room and they have not been tampered with.

    “A five-man fact-finding committee was therefore set up to ascertain the nature and verify the report of obstructive and lawless activities that generally attended the elections at the state collation centre, other collation centres and polling areas, occasioning the suspension.

    “I was a member of the fact-finding committee. So, I know what I am talking about.

    “The main objective of this meeting is to brief you on the schedule of activities and timeline, set by the commission for the conclusion of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections, and to solicit for your maximum cooperation towards the success of this exercise.

    “It is also to generate discussions among the stakeholders, with a view to achieving transparent, peaceful and violence-free conclusion of the elections, within the timeline set by the commission.”

     

     

  • Wike, Awara clash at stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt

    The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and the state’s governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara  Saturday clashed at the commission’s stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt.

    Awara, an indigene of Kula-Kalabari in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers, accused Wike and INEC of doctoring results of the ‘bloody’ governorship and House of Assembly elections of March 9 in the state.

    Wike, however, accused Awara, other members of AAC and their backers in the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) of promoting violence and scaring investors from Rivers.

    The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by the National Commissioner of the commission in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer, who also chaired the stakeholders’ meeting, urged Rivers residents to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the controversial elections.

    Also in attendance at Saturday’s meeting, which took place at Omni Event Centre, Eastern By-pass, Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt, ahead of April 2 resumption of collation of results of March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections, was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, who was represented by the Garrison Commander of 6 Division Garrison, Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye.

    Others included Rivers Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, who is also the Chairman of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, (in Rivers state); and INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Rivers, Mr. Obo Effanga, who was represented by the Administrative Secretary in the state, Elder Etim Umoh.

    Rivers Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah; Ledum Mitee of Initiative for Credible Elections (ICE), who is a former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP); representatives of the Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Customs, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as top politicians and other eminent personalities were also in attendance.

    Awara said: “Surprised that the leaders of political parties involved in the elections were not asked questions by members of INEC’s five-man fact-finding committee. I doubt the reliability of the doctored result sheets and other electoral materials with INEC in the last three weeks. We have record of some of the results being mutilated, particularly that of Akuku-Toru LGA.

    “REC of INEC in Rivers State has refused to give reasons for charging the four compromised electoral officers of the commission, who lack integrity for being card-carrying members of PDP.

    “If the violence made the March 9 elections not to be credible, according to INEC, where did the commission get results for the seventeen LGAs, of Rivers 23 LGAs in the INEC’s possession? At what point did the elections become violence-free, for the commission to now have results for 17 LGAs? Why has INEC refused to release the results of the 17 LGAs it claimed to have and the remaining six LGAs it wants to do supplementary election?”

    Rivers governor, however, accused the AAC’s governorship candidate, members of his party and his backers in APC of being economical with the truth.

    Wike said: “I do not agree that Rivers is a violent state. Rivers State has never and it will not be a violent State.  Why are they raising too much alarm? What causes violence? Why is there violence each time there is election? The only way to have peaceful elections is when the security agencies refuse to interfere or manipulate any process.

    “How did people die? When INEC would go and collate results and people would resist and when people resist, they will shoot them. Rivers is not a violent state. It is most unfortunate that people would leave their state, come to another state, instead of them to make sure what obtains in their state obtains here, they do not want it, they want to cause problems for us.

    “With all due respect, the Garrison Commander (Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye) is here. Throughout my political career, of not less than thirty years, I have never experienced the type of roles the army played. We must tell people the simply truth.

    “INEC set up a committee in 2016, during and after the reruns, where it was stated in your report that certain police officer manhandled your electoral official. He even went as far as naming the police officer. What has happened, as INEC? You could have said you did not want that kind of officer again. The same officer was also implicated in your report in these elections. Who are the people causing the violence?

    “Rivers State in not violent when they are drilling crude oil. Why must the violence be during the period of elections? Who are those responsible, in order to tell them? INEC can insist on not requiring the services of the violent security personnel; that is the only way we can have peaceful, free and fair elections in Rivers State. Let the army personnel remove their hands from elections. It is unfortunate that we had some people demonstrating and thanking the Nigerian Army for a job well done. That is Nigeria for us.

    “Who are the security personnel that will be in charge of the collation (between April 2 and 5)? Let us avoid sermon. You do not preach to me what you will not practise. The onus is on the security agencies to help INEC to do the right things, in order to achieve the results the commission wants to achieve. Rivers State is a peaceful state. Nobody should be driving away investors from us. Let personnel of Nigerian Army remove their hands from electoral process.”

    INEC chairman, at the “most-important stakeholders’ meeting,” stated that the elections were suspended on March 10, due to the high-level of violence that occurred during the March 9, 2019 polls in Rivers.

    Yakubu said: “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the good people of Rivers State, our traditional rulers, market women, youths, leaders and members of political parties in the state, including the candidates in the elections and all other stakeholders to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the elections by the commission.

    “We do not have any other state, apart from Rivers State, to call our own. Let us join hands together to make Rivers State even greater. On the part of the commission, I wish to assure you of our commitment to free, fair and credible elections. We intend to keep these promises. May God, in His kindness, grant Rivers State perpetual peace.

    Read also: Tonye Cole, Accord Party assembly candidates call for fresh election in Rivers

    “The results of the March 9 elections in Rivers State are with us (INEC) in our strong room and they have not been tampered with.

    “A five-man fact-finding committee was therefore set up to ascertain the nature and verify the report of obstructive and lawless activities that generally attended the elections at the state collation centre, other collation centres and polling areas, occasioning the suspension. I was a member of the fact-finding committee. So, I know what I am talking about.

    “The main objective of this meeting is to brief you on the schedule of activities and timeline, set by the commission for the conclusion of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections, and to solicit for your maximum cooperation towards the success of this exercise. It is also to generate discussions among the stakeholders, with a view to achieving transparent, peaceful and violence-free conclusion of the elections, within the timeline set by the commission.”

    Rivers police commissioner also stated that the past few weeks in Rivers state, before, during and after the general elections had been very difficult and trying moment for everyone, stressing that all stakeholders had maintained decorum, outstanding maturity and dedication to peaceful resolution of conflicts in Rivers.

    Belel said: “As it is usual in every contest, winners and losers must emerge, but the maturity with which the contest’s results is accepted, determines how peaceful the society can be. I wish to appeal to all stakeholders to give peace a chance (in Rivers State) and be magnanimous, either in victory or in defeat, as there will still be Rivers State beyond these elections.

    “It is my humble appeal that contestants and parties’ faithful should prevail on their supporters to do away with thuggery and violence. The Rivers State Police Command is determined to provide security for all residents and stakeholders in Rivers State for them to exercise their fundamental rights.

    “As the lead agency and the  Chairman of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, (in Rivers State), I want to use this opportunity to thank all stakeholders for the synergy and oneness of purpose that has kept this state together this long. I hereby encourage all of you to do the needful, in furtherance of our interagency cooperation.”

    Rivers REC of INEC, in his welcome remarks, reiterated that On March 9, the governorship and House of Assembly elections were held in Rivers, but due to unexpected developments, especially security, the collation could not be concluded, maintaining that till now, INEC did not know the winners of the elections.

    Effanga said: “In order to ensure credible process, INEC has sent seasoned electoral officers, led by the National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who is the chairman of this occasion. Political parties that participated in the March 9 elections should submit the names of their agent. We are not conducting fresh elections. The status quo as at March 9 remains.

    “We have the results for these seventeen LGAs: Ahoada East, Akuku-Toru, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme, Emohua, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt and Tai. Their (17 LGAs) collation was at the local government level. Collation was not completed in the remaining six LGAs: Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Asari-Toru, Degema, Gokana and Khana.

    “In Abua/Odual LGA, the materials and men did not even go out to the field. They were frustrated from going out and elections did not take place there. In Gokana LGA, materials and men went out to the field, but none came back, because there was outright violence and everything was destroyed. So, we do not have any result from there. In Ahoada West LGA, out of about 100 polling units, we have results in only 24 and that is not good enough. Asari-Toru LGA was not concluded, but we have the polling units’ results available, but they were not collated. Degema LGA has 17 registration areas, which we call wards in INEC’s context, and collation took place in ten, remaining seven. The seven wards, their results are in INEC’s strong room. In Khana LGA, there was no collation at the local government level, but we have results from the polling units and the collation from some wards available.

    “INEC, in its mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Rivers State, decided to come with a timetable (timeline) to let the people know how to ensure the collation and to know the winners.”

    INEC’s REC in Rivers also stated that the stakeholders’ forum was not strange, but to carry everybody along and to know what INEC was doing.

    Effanga noted that before the suspension order came from Abuja on March 10, collation had commenced, with INEC now resuming the collation.

    REC of INEC in Rivers disclosed that the collation, scheduled for between April 2 and 5, would hold at the INEC’s office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.