INEC: Why We Suspended Rivers Bye-election · We’ve confirmed police collusion with APC, says Wike

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it suspended the bye-elections into Port Harcourt State Constituency 3 because widespread violence and electoral fraud aided and abetted by security agencies.

This is as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said the state has been vindicated by INEC’s confirmation of the collusion between the opposition All progressives Congress (APC) and security agencies in electoral fraud in the state.

Addressing a press conference on the outcome of the election in Port Harcourt on Sunday, Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Obo Effanga, said the commission had no alternative to suspend the election because it did not meet the minimum standards because of widespread violence and snatching of card readers and ballot boxes by politicians aided by armed uniformed security personnel.

He reiterated the content of the statement issued by the commission that while the commission deployed enough men and materials for the election, its effort was scuttled by the invasion of polling units by big wig politicians escorted by uniformed armed security personnel.

“In INEC, we are not so much concerned about who wins or loses but in the integrity of the electoral process. What we saw last Saturday was the lowest level of electoral discredit. INEC was ready but the elite aided by the uniformed security personnel spoilt the process.

“What is clear from our observations is that the elite of Rivers State will determine the electoral progress of this state. Their conduct last Saturday is condemnable and reprehensible by the standard of any decent society,” he said.

In his contribution, Akwa Ibom State REC and representative of National Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State, Mr. Mike Igini, said the commission had to suspend the election in order not to put the lives of more people at risk because of the widespread violence that affected voters, INEC officials and journalists.

He expressed dissatisfaction that some politicians would be granted immunity to move around with security personnel in violation of the Electoral Act without being arrested.

“The question we cannot answer is how individuals would be going around with platoons of different arms of security personnel in Hilux vehicles unhindered. The future of Rivers State is in the hands of the elite of the state,” Igini said.

Also reacting to the incidents of the election, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, accused the police of complicity in the violence and electoral fraud that characterised the bye-election.

In a state broad cast yesterday, Wike expressed dissatisfaction that despite assurances, the police connived in unleashing violence on the people.

Wike said: “Unfortunately, and as we had feared, the Police failed us completely once again and negated all that they promised. Instead of providing security for voters and INEC officials the Police brazenly colluded with political thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to subvert the democratic process and denied the people of Port Harcourt Constituency III their rights to free, fair and credible elections.

“Confirmed reports from the field indicated that INEC promptly and rightly distributed elections materials to all the polling units within a recorded time.

“However, while voting was underway, armed thugs from the APC led by the State’s factional Chairman, Mr. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree moved freely from one polling unit to the other, violently assaulted voters and INEC officials and carted away election materials, including smart card readers and ballot boxes.

“It is important to note that Ojukaye Flag-Amachree who led the thugs is the same person facing multiple murder trial and instead of arresting him as ordered by the trial court, the Police has continued to aid and shield him from arrest and prosecution.

“It is equally important to note that Ojukaye Flag-Amachree and his thugs freely and easily overran the entire constituency and successfully disenfranchised the electorates with the active support, protection and guidance of heavily armed Police operatives from the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit.

         

“Consequently, the thugs and their police accomplices successfully disrupted the bye-election in virtually all the 142 polling units across the 8 wards of the Constituency and caused bodily injuries to several innocent voters and INEC officials.”

While commending the INEC for a good job, Wike said it was obvious that the police have taken sides in the political conflict in the state.

He said: “This situation is worrisome. If the Nigerian Police cannot secure and guarantee the peaceful and successful conduct of election in a single State Constituency of 8 wards, then what will happen in 2019 when they would be contending with 319 electoral wards and 4442 polling units across 23 Local Government Areas of the State?

“It should be noted that there was no single incidence of violence in the entire State in the last local government elections, in which the APC refused participate.

“What is clear from all these acts of bad behaviour is that the Nigerian Police has since become entrenched as an interested party in the politics of Rivers State and therefore can no longer be trusted to participate as an impartial institution in the State’s electoral process.