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Tag: rerun

  • Rivers rerun: Nobody can impose representatives on Rivers, says Wike 

    Rivers rerun: Nobody can impose representatives on Rivers, says Wike 

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said the state is too big for anybody to impose representatives on the residents.

    The governor said the people should be allowed to elect their representatives.

    Wike spoke yesterday at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt, the state capital, during a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) dedication service to begin the campaign for the rerun/supplementary election.

    The governor urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be neutral in performing its duty during the rerun and ensure that the will of the people prevails.

    He said: “This election will prove whether INEC is ready to conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria.”

    Wike said the PDP remained committed to violence-free polls, adding that the party’s opponents should play within the rules of engagement.

    He said: “What causes violence during elections is when the umpire wants to manipulate, rig or write results. We will resist any attempt to write results.

    “The PDP will not be involved in anything violent, but we will not allow anyone to steal our votes. We will protect our votes and make sure that the people’s mandate is declared.”

  • Wike, INEC and Rivers rerun election

    As the new date for the Rivers State rerun election inches closer, some political actors in the state have started reigniting signature inflammatory rhetoric. The state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, in particular has put forward conspiratorial theories on purported  plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  to manipulate the election results in favour of his party’s opponent.

    Many are not too surprised about this claim – a claim they view as antics of politicians based on their seeming incurable penchant to deploy everything in their arsenals to win at all cost in every elections. Nonetheless,  the unsubstantiated allegations and brazen attacks  being thrown at INEC on daily basis by these actors since the announcement of December 10 as the new date for the rerun election continues to bleed the heart.

    Why will people be casting aspersion on the credibility of INEC just for a singular aim of achieving their selfish political agenda not minding the negative effect  such actions will have on the electoral umpire as one the major organs that is sustaining democracy in the country? The Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC has left no one in doubt of  its unwavering commitment not to renege on its pledge to ensure that  all elections conducted under its watch are not only free and fair but also credible. That was why I was shocked  to the marrows of my bones recently when I heard that Wike accused the electoral umpire of  colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the rerun election. Interestingly, the APC also accused INEC of working with Wike’s party to rig the election.

    Though Wike and his co-travelers in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are not wrong to raise alarm over the syndicate that was recently bursted for printing fake election result sheet for the  rerun election, pointing accusing fingers to INEC  was not only out of place but was also a well calculated plot to  rubbish the image of the electoral umpire. The posers  any sane mind should ask those accusing  INEC  for this ugly development are many. Does INEC  really need to churn out fake election materials to manipulate result? If INEC truly wants to rig the election, why will it do that when it can produce any amount of original materials it deems fit for any election?  Has INEC released the sensitive materials for the election, which is always done few hours to the election, to know if there is any correlation between the fake and original materials? Has investigation been concluded on the issue to really know the face behind the syndicate?

    While I am not in any way holding brief for INEC, it is important to remind Nigerians that even the APC in Rivers State has  also  in number of times accused the same INEC  of favouring PDP in the state . This shows that INEC is unbiased and does not take instruction from politicians. Some elections recently conducted across the country which saw  to the emergence of  winners from different political divides testified to this. The  senatorial election conducted in Kogi State were won by PDP; same as Bayelsa gubernatorial election, while APC won the governorship in Edo and Kogi states.

    That  is why I have always dismissed with a wave of hand those who accused  INEC of delaying the Rivers rerun election to favour a political party. To put the record straight, before  Senator Ike Ekweramadu’s motion  on the non-conduct of election in Rivers State which resulted  in  the Senate threat to stop plenary if the election is not conducted by December 10,  the electoral body had earlier fixed the date for the rerun for the sme date. In fact, Ekweremadu’s motion had intended to slam an immediate ultimatum on INEC if the election is not conducted before end of November, which prompted the chairman of Senate committee on INEC, Senator Abubakar Kyari to inform the Senators that the commission already told his committee that it would conduct the Rivers election on December 10!

    It is  unfortunate that instead of blaming politicians for delaying the election, all sorts of invectives are erroneously being poured on INEC  for allegedly orchestrating the delay  in spite of the commission’s readiness for the elections. Many have also gone as far as saying that if election can be successfully conducted in ‘Boko Haram-torn  Sambisa forest’ what is stopping INEC to delay elections in Rivers State.

    The answer to this is simple, Boko Haram goal is to carve out a territory for itself, hence they are not interested in what goes on in the nation’s political system. On the other hand, in Rivers State, political actors always go to the  trenches in any election to win by force. They use all measures; they divide to conquer, supplying arms and money to unemployed youths who are used and dumped after the election. They instigate people to fight and kill each other because of election, in order to be able to achieve their objectives. The consequence of this has been damning. In the March 28 rerun election in the state,  seven people were  said to have lost their lives in the state, including a youth corps member, Okonta Samuel, and two soldiers.

    Political actors in Rivers State should learn from the September 28, Edo State gubernatorial election  that was totally devoid of violence; it is no doubt a testament to the competence of  INEC  in guaranteeing credible and conclusive polls when political actors and other stakeholders play according to the rules.

     

    • John, a public affairs commentator, writes in from Lagos
  • Wike, APC differ over plot to rig rerun poll

    Wike, APC differ over plot to rig rerun poll

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC), the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of planning to rig the December 10 rerun election.

    At a news conference inside the Government House Banquet Hall, attended by former Acting Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Prince Uche Secondus, Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo, state PDP chairman Felix Obuah, members of the state executive council and some party leaders, Wike said: “Anybody that plans to rig the rerun election would rig his or her life.”

    He alleged that those arrested were members of the APC and relatives of one of the leaders of the party, adding that if the police failed to conclude their investigation on the arrest of the suspects, his party would protest and ensure that justice is done.

    Wike said: “We have been working on a tip-off on some of the manipulation going on in  the state and we said when it is mature, we will strike. Now, God has exposed them. I was in Sokoto when they called me that members of the APC had been arrested while printing ballot papers.

    “The plot is to bring the fake result sheets to the polling units, in agreement with security agents and push away our agents and then concoct results. That is the role INEC is playing with the police.”

    But Rivers State APC Publicity Secretary Warisenibo Chris Finebone said the PDP planned to plant electoral materials in the homes of APC chieftains, instigate arrest and keep them out of the way before the re-run election.

    Finebone said: “The idea of the PDP is to plant election materials in some homes of individuals, claiming they are APC members so as to take some of our chieftains out of circulation before the rerun election. Emma Chinda they mentioned has not been in Port Harcourt for a very long time.

    “Their target is to paint Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside black. For us, they should come forth and show us proof. Security agents should come up to tell us if the operation was genuine or not.”

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Aniedi Ikoiak, declined to speak when contacted.

  • PDP wins Kogi East senatorial rerun

    A former Chief of Air Staff and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Air Vice-Marshal Isaac Alfa (retd), has been declared winner of last Saturday’s Kogi East senatorial rerun.

    Alfa polled 57, 575 votes to defeat five others. The election held in 236 of the 1,080 polling units.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) did not participate in the rerun due to an Appeal Court judgment which prohibited it from fielding a candidate.

    Returning Officer Prof. Lucky Ovwhasa said only 140, 297 of the 643,559 registered voters participated in the election.

  • Senator tackles INEC about rerun

    Senator tackles INEC about rerun

    The senator, who represented Imo North, Athanasius Nneji Achonu, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tell Nigerians why it has not conducted the rerun ordered by the Court of Appeals.

    He also said Nigerians should ask why “the seeming conspiracy” to deny the senatorial zone representation at the National Assembly persisted.

    Achonu told reporters in Abuja, that it was curious that the police and army, which assisted the INEC to conduct elections in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, where Boko Haram holds sway, claimed they could not provide security for a rerun in Imo North.

    The senator said it was a miscarriage of justice that his election was annulled on the ground that his party, Accord (A), was not on the ballot papers when it was actually the number one on the ballot papers.

    Achonu was declared winner of Imo North Senatorial District poll held on April 28, last year.

    The election was set aside by the Court of Appeal, which sat in Owerri, the Imo State capital, in the judgment of December 11, last year on the ground that INEC failed to include the logo of Accord Party on the ballot papers.

    The appellate court order INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days from the date of its judgment. The re-run election scheduled for February 20, 2016 was aborted when hoodlums invaded INEC office in Owerri on February 19th.

    But Achonu smelt a rat shouting blue murder.

    He said, “In the first place, there wasn’t supposed to be a re-run election because Accord Party was number one on the ballot paper used for the election, so there was no exclusion. The only problem was that on the day of the election, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) noticed that Accord Party was not on the ballot paper. We raised the alarm. The INEC officer in charge withdrew all the ballot papers and substituted them with Imo East, Owerri zone where Accord Party was number one. That was the ballot paper we used for the election.

    “But I think it was a conspiracy, because the INEC lawyer who handled the matter in the court did not front-load the ballot paper. No court of law would accept that. There is something going on, something wrong that I do not understand. The fact is that there was not supposed to be any re-run.”

  • Rerun: Observer group seeks justice on killings

    Rerun: Observer group seeks justice on killings

    An observer group, under the aegis of Beyond Boundaries Legacy Leadership Initiative (BBLLI), has written to the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwhistle, on the need for justice for those killed in the March 19 rerun.

    The group made a special case for the slain National Youth Service Corps. (NYSC) member, Samuel Dumebi Okonta, demanding arrest and prosecution of his killers.

    BBLLI noted that Okonta’s death was not only painful and condemnable but also avoidable.

    It sought the intervention of the United States government on the death of security personnel during the rerun.

    In a letter, dated March 29 by its Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Anthony Onuya Yusuf, BBLLI said Governor Nyesom Wike should be held responsible for the crises that erupted during the rerun.

    The group said the governor should be investigated and taken to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, for allegedly committing crimes against humanity during the rerun.

    BBLLI said: “The unpleasant atmosphere created by stakeholders of the two major parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – particularly the series of unwarranted threats by Governor Wike, no doubt are at the root of the wanton killings and destruction of property.

    “We have it on record that Governor Wike, who is statutorily dutybound as the chief security officer to maintain peace, law and order in Rivers State, openly threatened violence and death to stakeholders before and during the rerun elections.

    “In fact, Governor Wike was reported to have told workers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) posted to Rivers State on election duties to write their will ahead of the elections. The PDP and their acolytes were battle-ready to decapitate anyone attempting to stand as an obstacle to their victory at the polls.

    “Unfortunately, Wike’s threats materialised and the rerun elections were greeted by violence, leading to numerous atrocities perpetrated against our security agencies by armed gangs believed to have been sponsored by the state government. Worthy of mention is the brutal murder in Ahoada West Local Government of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Samuel Chukwudumebi Okonta, who served as INEC ad hoc worker with Call-Up No. RV/15B/5539.

    “We are shocked that Nigerians and members of the international community, who usually cry foul and castigate our security operatives whenever they go wrong in the discharge of their duties, have kept mute instead of demanding justice for the atrocities and provocations perpetrated against security agencies.

    “The slain men and officers, who laid down their lives for the service of fatherland, are not angels from heaven but responsible Nigerians with obligations to families, friends and dependants. They deserved protection and, in death, their killers ought to be brought to face the wrath of the law.

    “We join other advocates of justice across the world in condemning the callousness and political opportunism exhibited by agents of the Rivers State government against humanity in the name of preventing the APC-led Federal Government from taking over power at the state level.”

  • INEC suspends action on bloody Rivers rerun poll

    INEC suspends action on bloody Rivers rerun poll

    Wike’s chief of staff held over attack on Peterside, others

    Wike: my aide’s driver killed

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last night suspended further action on Rivers State rerun elections into the National Assembly and the House of Assembly.

    It said it decided to take the action because several permanent and ad hoc officials had been attacked. Some were abducted and taken to unknown destinations.

    The electoral agency said the tense atmosphere had only enabled it to collate and declare results in only one Federal and nine state constituencies.

    But the suspension does not affect the constituencies where the process has been completed and the results declared by the Returning Officers.

    A statement last night by INEC’s Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Oluwole Osaze- Uzzi, said: “Pursuant to the Orders of the Court of Appeal, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted elections into various seats in the National and the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday, the 19th of March, 2016.

    “Rather unfortunately, some of these elections witnessed the disruption of the process, including the barricading of some of the INEC Local Government offices and Registration Area Centres (RACs) used for the distribution of Electoral materials which led to the late commencement of the exercise in some places and consequently, its smooth take off.

    “Of more serious concern was the level of threats, violence and intimidation of election officials and voters by well armed thugs and miscreants allegedly acting on behalf of some politicians, which marred the elections in some areas.

    “There were reports of numerous attacks resulting in fatalities, kidnappings, ballot snatching, diversion of officials and materials, amongst others, which necessitated its suspension in 8 Local Government Areas.

    “Regrettably, such deviant behaviour has continued today. Several permanent and ad hoc staff engaged have been attacked, again resulting in fatalities, while some have been forcibly abducted and taken to presently unknown destinations.

    “Under such difficult circumstance, the Returning Officers were only able to collate and declare results in 1 Federal and 9 State constituencies where the disruption and malpractices were not so widespread.

    “Having reviewed the situation, the Commission is compelled to suspend all further action concerning the exercise in all the other constituencies in the State pending the receipt of a comprehensive report from its Field Officials and Monitors.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the suspension does not affect the constituencies where the exercise has been completed and the results declared by the Returning Officers.”

  • Rivers rerun: No new date yet for eight local govts

    Rivers rerun: No new date yet for eight local govts

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday cancelled the election in two more councils in the Rivers State re-run parliamentary election. This brings to eight the number of local governments with cancelled results.

    The two local governments are those of Etche and Asari Toru.

    The commission is yet to fix a new date for the polls.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC)  Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, who announced the cancellation, said: “Please note that this suspension of the rerun election by INEC is necessitated by the need to forestall breakdown of law and order or loss of lives and property in the event of further aggravation of crisis.”

    The electoral agency on Saturday cancelled election in six local governments – Khana, Bonny, Gokana, Andoni, Tai, and Eleme. INEC conducted elections in 22 of the 32 state House of Assembly seats, 12 of the 13 House of Representatives seats and three senatorial districts.

  • 6,880 National Youth Service Corps members for rerun

    6,880 National Youth Service Corps members for rerun

    The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Oluwumi, has urged security agencies, politicians and community leaders in Rivers State to ensure the protection of corps members deployed in tomorrow’s National and House of Assembly elections.

    NYSC’s Director of Corps Welfare Michael Ahile delieverd Gen. Olawumi’s message at a security meeting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, ahead of the elections.

    Oluwumi said INEC trained 6,880 corps members for the elections.

    He warned the youth to avoid the late arrival of electoral materials.

    The NYSC chief said the corps members should be protected from attack and intimidation by politicians, their supporters and community residents, for errors arising from conduct of the polls.

    He said: “NYSC has mobilised 6,880 corps members. The youth, who were trained by INEC on their roles, are reportedly going to serve as presiding and assistant presiding officers.

    “The corps members are not politicians, INEC or contestants/candidates. They are here on a national assignment and have been deployed on a national duty. Therefore, we want to appeal to opinion leaders, politicians, political leaders and their supporters not to intimidate or expose them to violence during the elections.

    “Nigeria decided that corps members should be part of the electoral process because of their level of education, their neutrality and the fact that they represent they are organised.

    “The involvement of youths in the electoral process has gained national and global acceptability and commendations and encouragements.

    “I appeal that they be protected. If election materials do not arrive to any polling unit on time, it is not the fault of the corps member; if the Card Reader develops faults and malfunctions, it is not the corps member trying to manipulate it to the advantage of one party or the other. Community leaders and politicians should take note of this.

    “More importantly, the duty of corps members ends at the time they finish and submit result sheets at the polling units. They are not to be held for collation of results.”

  • Wike alleges plot to influence returning officers in rerun

    Wike alleges plot to influence returning officers in rerun

    • Governor making false allegations, says Dewari George

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of preparing a list of compromised Returning officers to help it win  the legislative rerun on March 19.

    He said the list contains names of lecturers from the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

    Wike made the allegation when UNIPORT Vice Chancellor  Prof. Ndowa Lale visited him yesterday.

    He named an APC chieftain, who is also the House of Representatives candidate for Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru, Dr. Dawari George, as being behind the list.

    George yesterday denied the allegation, saying the governor was out to malign him. He challenged Wike to publish the list.

    He described the allegation as unfortunate and threatened to take action after he had completed investigation.

    Wike said he notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the alleged plot.

    “The vice chancellor signed without knowing the list of Returning officers was hijacked by the APC through Dr Otu Ekpeyong, who was guided by Dr George, the APC candidate for Akuku-Toru/Asari Toru.

    “I am saying this publicly because we want the world to know the desperation of the APC.  The fraudulent list of Returning officers for the rerun has been intercepted and we have written to the national chairman of INEC.”

    George said:  “It is unfortunate this kind of thing can come from a governor. I am not an INEC staff. I do not know how and where they recruit their ad hoc staff. I have not done what he has accused me of.”