The Nation Newspaper

Tag: #RiversRerun

  • ‘DSS not working against electoral process in Rivers’

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has debunked rumours that it was instructed to work against the completion of the electoral process in Rivers State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had suspended collation of result of the March 23 governorship elections. It fixed April 2 and 5 for collation and announcement of results. Supplementary polls would hold on April 15 in areas where elections were cancelled.

    A statement by DSS’s spokesman Peter Afunanya, said the commission was not under any instruction to work against the process as alleged.

    REad also: DSS releases Jones Abiri

    The statement reads: “As a professional agency, DSS will continue to adhere to the principles of justice and fairness.”

    Afunanya said this was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on non-interference in the electoral process.

    He added that the DSS would partner sister security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure a level playing ground for all contestants.

  • GOC faults Rivers PDP chairman on killing, mass arrest in Ogoni

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the newly-created 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, has described as false, the alarm raised by the Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, on the alleged killing and mass arrest of members of the party by soldiers in Tai-Ogoni and Gokana-Ogoni Local Government Areas of the state.

    Maj.-Gen. Abdulkarim, in a telephone interview at 11:34 a.m. admonished all right-thinking Rivers people and other stakeholders to ignore the lies of Obuah and other leaders of the PDP.

    The GOC said: “It (Obuah’s allegation) is not true. Let them not create conflict within a conflict. Nobody should raise any alarm. I have just returned to the office in Port Harcourt, from monitoring the elections, which have been peaceful and the voters are orderly.

    “I was with the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Habila Joshak, when the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, called him to know the security situation on the ground and he (DIG) told IGP that everywhere was very calm and the electorate exercising their franchise. I do not know why they will cry wolf, where there is none.”

    Rivers PDP chairman, at 10:38 a.m. today, raised the alarm on the killing and mass arrest of members of the ruling party in Ogoniland by soldiers.

    Obuah said: “PDP in Rivers State condemns Nigerian Army’s arrest and killing of members of PDP in Tai and Gokana LGAs. The soldiers arrested over 200 PDP members in Tai LGA, 12 innocent PDP members were shot and one member of the party was killed in Tai LGA.

    “Barako community in Gokana LGA was also invaded by soldiers, scores of PDP members were arrested.”

     

  • Election: Voting commences in Rivers re-run

    Voting has commenced in Rivers re-run legislative election taking place in eight Local Government Areas.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that accreditation and voting began at 8.30am in Wards 10 and 16 of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.

    At Ward 16, unit 1, a voter, Mr Christian Aniakor, said the process was peaceful, cordial and smooth.

    “ I voted at 8.35 am. It was a peaceful exercise and I am impressed with the security arrangement, early arrival of election materials.

    “ This has indeed, reduced the pre-election tension which made it look as if it will be bloody,” he said.

    Mr Jeffrey Chuku, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agent at the Ward, said he was impressed with the conduct of the election in the area.

    “ We are satisfied with the conduct of the election in the ward. It has been peaceful so far,” he said.

    M Chibuike Maraihe, All Progressives Congress (APC) agent at the ward said, the election began early and had been peaceful.

    “ I am impressed with the conduct of the election in the ward. The exercise has been free and fair here and as you can see, there is heavy security presence in the ward,” he said.

    At Ward 10, Unit 12, Mr Edmund, Naaku, the agent of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said though voter turn-out had not been much, voting commenced at 8.55am.

    “ My take is that the exercise here has been peaceful. We have not recorded much voter turn-out. I am optimistic people will come to vote later in the day,” he said.

    NAN also reports that the card reader machine was used to accredit voters while the incident form was used in units where the card reader did not function.

    INEC Presiding Officers in the wards said the election had been peaceful and smooth.

    In Akuku-Toru Local government Area, materials arrived late in the five units where election will hold.

    NAN reports that INEC officials had commenced distribution of materials to the affected units while voter turn-out was impressive. (NAN)

  • Photos: Peterside votes in Rivers rerun elections

    Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside votes at Unit 06 Ward 03 Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State.
    Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside votes at Unit 06 Ward 03 Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside speaking with newsmen after voting at Unit 06 Ward 03 Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State.

  • Rivers Rerun: INEC postpones election in four LGAs

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Rivers State, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, has just announced the cancellation of legislative rerun in Khana, Gokana, Andoni and Bonny LGAs Rivers State.

    Ikoiwak made the announcement on Saturday in view of attack of INEC officials by party agents, who alleged that result sheets were fake.

    The REC added that new date for the elections will be announced later.

  • Photos: Fake military personnel arrested in Rivers

    Photos: Fake military personnel arrested in Rivers

    Rivers Fa

     

    Rivers Fakee

     

    Rivers Fake

    All photos were taken from Twitter using #RiversRerun.

  • Photos: Violence in Rivers rerun

    Photos: Violence in Rivers rerun

    Rivers Violenc

    Rivers Viol

     

    Rivers violence

     

    Rivers Viole

    All photos were taken from Twitter using #RiversRerun.

  • Seven killed, eight arrested during Rivers polls

    Seven killed, eight arrested during Rivers polls

    At least seven persons were killed in the rerun parliamentary election that took place in all the 23 local government areas of Rivers State on Saturday.

    Although the identities of the victims or the persons who that them had not been established, our correspondent gathered that one of the dead victims an immigration officer serving in the state.

    The deceased was reportedly killed at Abalama in Asari Toru local government area of the state when unknown gunmen opened fire on the people.

    At Eleme local government area, four persons were killed, while one was killed in Nonwa, Tai LGA.

    One person was also shot dead at Ogboloko community in Abua/Odual LGA of the state.

    Attempts by our correspondent to get the state police spokesman, Ahmad Mohammad, to comment on the matter were unsuccessful.

     

  • Rivers: INEC dismisses report on fake result sheets

    Rivers: INEC dismisses report on fake result sheets

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has condemned allegations of Fake Result sheets being deployed for election in Akuku-Toru, Tai and Bonny Local Government Areas of Rivers State for the ongoing Election rerun.

    The commission made this known in a post that appeared on its Social media handle saying: “The Allegations are untrue and they should be discountenanced. Voters are advised to come out and Exercise their franchise peacefully.

    “However, Result sheets with BAR CODES and Serial Number are valid. Remember: Voting starts and ends until the last person accredited has voted.”

  • Photos from ongoing Rivers election rerun

    Photos from ongoing Rivers election rerun

    Governor Wike casting vote at Ward 9, Unit 7, Obio-Akpor LGA
    Governor Wike casting vote at Ward 9, Unit 7, Obio-Akpor LGA

     

    Rivers Evans
    Hon Evans on the Queue to vote at Ward 1 Unit 6, Ogu/Bolo LGA

     

    Senator George Sekibo just voting Ogu/Bolo LGA
    Hon. Evans voting at Ward 1, Unit 6, Ogu/Bolo LGA.

     

    Senator George Sekibo addressing newsmen after casting his vote at Ward 2, Ogu/Bolo LGA.
    Senator George Sekibo addressing newsmen after casting his vote at Ward 2, Ogu/Bolo LGA.

     

    Rivers Election
    Election ongoing at Ward 7, Unit 7, Oyigo LGA. – By May Ubeku on Twitter