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| Rivers Rerun: Governor Wike cast his vote at his PU In Ward 9, Unit 7 at Obio-Akpor LGA |
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Rivers
Rerun: Minister of transport
Rotimi Amaechi cast his vote at unit 14, Ward 8, Ubima, in Ikwerre LGA by
12.30pm
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The Independent National
Electoral Commission has suspended announcement of results of Saturday’s re-run
elections in Rivers State.
Media
report continues:
In
a statement Sunday, the commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity,
Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said the “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.”
Mr.
Osaze-Uzzi added, “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.”
READ FULL STATEMENT
BELOW:
STATEMENT BY THE
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION(INEC) ON THE NATIONAL AND STATE
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN RIVERS STATE
Pursuant
to the Orders of the Court of Appeal, the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) conducted elections into various seats in both 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.
Oluwole Osaze- Uzzi,Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC
Rivers Election:
4 Deaths Confirmed As Army Explains Arrest Of SSG
Media
report that the Nigeria Police have confirmed that four people were killed
during the re-run elections in Rivers State on Saturday.
The
Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone Six, Calabar, Adisa Bolanta, said
four deaths were recorded while 22 persons were arrested during the elections.
Mr.
Bolanta disclosed this on Sunday at a joint security news conference in Port
Harcourt.
He
said the suspects were being interrogated on allegations of criminal or
electoral offences.
He
said deployments made by the police assisted in reducing election-related
offences.
Also,
the Commander of 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Stephenson Olabanji,
confirmed the arrest of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government.
Also
confirmed to have been arrested is a Special Assistant to the governor.
Mr.
Olabanji, a Brigadier General, said both men were arrested in Gokana and Khana
Local Government Area on Saturday for allegedly committing electoral offences.
“Many
people were arrested yesterday for disrupting the electoral process and the law
is not meant for just the lower cadre alone.
“No
matter who you are, if you go against the law, you will definitely face the
music.
“So,
there is nothing like being Secretary to the State Government; many people were
arrested as you have been told; a lot of people were arrested,” he said.
Mr.
Olabanji denied claims by the state government that some commissioners and
other top officials were manhandled by the Army during the re-run elections.
At
a separate event, Governor Nyesom Wike said the Peoples Democratic Party, would
win Saturday’s re-run legislative elections in the state because it prepared
for it.
Mr.
Wike told journalists in Port Harcourt that when the elections of the
legislators were annulled in December, the party commenced preparations for
re-run.
He
said that the party began campaigns and started working hard to win the
elections because it was on ground.
The
governor confirmed that the Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Kobani,
and a Special Assistant, Cyril Wite, were arrested by the Army.
Mr.
Wike said the government officials wanted to ensure that election materials
were moved to polling units when they were arrested. He said it would be
difficult to rig elections in the state because the people would resist the
attempt.
According
to him, when somebody is not popular and attempts to rig the election, the people
will say no to such move.
He
alleged that some people were creating problems to make the Federal Government
declare a state of emergency in the state.
Mr.
Wike said that such ploy would not work, because the PDP was more popular in
the state.
He
urged the media not to be emotional or sentimental while reporting events in
the state, because such stories create wrong impression.
(NAN)
Photo source: Pic 1: nkiruhomann.com; Pic 2: naij.com
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