Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (in black) during inspection of the Burnt INEC Office in Bori on Saturday.

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that those who burnt the Bori office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are the same politicians who wrote to INEC seeking postponement of the rerun elections on the grounds of security.

Addressing journalists after inspecting the burnt section of INEC Khana Local Government Office in Bori,    Wike  said the arson should not serve as an excuse for the  elections to the postponed.

The governor regretted that politicians who are afraid of the rerun elections would go to the extent of burning down public facility to convince INEC that the rerun elections should be shifted.

He noted that no election materials have been deposited at the office, pointing out that the burnt section only serve as a hall for collation

He said: “Those who burnt this office were not ready for the elections.  They don’t want INEC to conduct the elections because they know that they don’t have the chances of winning.

“They want to use the issue of security to justify the request for postponement. If not, INEC has not brought election materials  to this office. What they have done is to scare INEC. ”

He added: “For us, we are not surprised. We know this is what they have planned to do.”

He advised INEC not to be deterred by the arson. He noted that the commission should go ahead with the elections as scheduled.

The governor directed the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the crime. He advised politicians not to see elections as a do or die affair, saying that they must submit themselves  to the will of the people.

He said: “We will make sure that this does not dampen the spirit of INEC. I have directed the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Local Government Area to immediately rebuild the burnt office”.

The  governor  said  that the state government will provide  an alternative office for INEC  to conduct  the  July 30 elections  in  the  area. He said the people have been duly mobilised and they are ready to cast their votes.

Earlier, the Khana Divisional Police Officer, Stephen Okunade said there was no security at the INEC office at the time of the arson. He said the lone private security guard was absent when the perpetrators struck.

He added that the private guard who has been detained only returned while the office was burning.

The governor was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Uche Anozie and top government functionaries.