…Disagrees with INEC on  reason for suspending Collation of results

…PDP calls for arrest of ACP Akin Fakorede for alleged shooting of lecturer, others

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Before the suspension of electoral process in Rivers state on Sunday, journalists and other stakeholders had waited for more than 24 hours after the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Rivers State at the headquarters of Independent National Electoral Office in Port Harcourt waiting for the commencement of the collation of the results.  

Before the suspension, there have apprehension and fear as with the Electoral process held up. No Collation was taking place as there were widespread allegations that men in Army uniforms invaded polling units carting away electoral materials on Saturday.

The state INEC headquarters along the Aba/Port Harcourt was also locked down by massive deployment of the military, so much that vehicles were redirected through different routes.

However, the social media have been inundated with some results that did not officially  emanate from INEC, but suggest that Engr.Biokpomabo Awara, the Governorship candidate of African Action Congress, AAC was set to win the election, defeating the incumbent Governor Nyesom Wike.

Recall could be made that 48 hours to the election, Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, had directed APC members to adopt and vote for Engr. Biokpomabo Awara in the absence of the APC on the ballot for the election.

Therefore, in swift reaction to the suspension of the electoral process, Tonye Cole Campaign organization disagreed with INEC suspension the collation of election results in which it claims Engineer Biokpomabo Awara of the African Action Congress, AAC was set to win on the basis of violence.  

The position of Tonye Cole faction of APC is has made known through a statement signed by Mr Ogbonna Nwuke, a former member of the House of Representatives.

According him: “Our position is that election  in Rivers State was largely peaceful, free and fair. INEC’s claim when compared with the situation on ground does not reflect what is on ground. Neither does it reflect the thinking and perception of the good people of Rivers State who went to vote despite threats peddled by the opposition.”

He said that In Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Ahoada West, Eleme, Oyigbo, Ikwerre, Emohua and other areas, elections conducted by the commission were free and fair.

He claimed that the results that have been so far received show that Engineer Biokpomabo Awara of the AAC supported by the APC was poised to win.

APC expressed shock and alleged that unnamed agents of the PDP serving in INEC who are known to be acting in cohorts with the PDP would mislead the Commission at the national level through claims that there were widespread attempts to disrupt the said elections.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we insist that Engineer Awara was on the road to victory. We affirm that neither INEC nor agents of darkness in our midst can stop the will of the Rivers people at this time.

“Pastor Tonye Cole and the APC believes in the supremacy of the Almighty. God acts through people and it is our view that He has spoken.

“While it is not our wish to join issues with INEC or any other democratic institution, we are satisfied that those born of women have demonstrated that those who seemingly do not have a choice in choosing who should lead them can indeed prove to the world that humans are products of women and respectable gentlemen.”

“APC warned that Rivers people will resist any attempt by INEC and the collaborators of the PDP to stifle the right of the Rivers people to decide their future.

“The party cautioned INEC not to tamper with results that have already been collated in favour of Engineer Awara and the AAC. Those results which represent the will of the people are sacrosanct and should not be tampered with.

“We want to state unequivocally that we are aware that results in five LGAs were inconclusive while the collation of results in the remaining LGAs were not ready at the time of the suspension of the elections.

“Recall that the same INEC in Rivers State suspended the announcement of results in PHALGA last year when it was clear that APC was on the road to victory in a State House of Assembly election.

The party said that Rivers people are tired of INEC’s meddling in the electoral process. INEC must respect the will of the people and the time to do so is now.

Accordingly, APC vowed that it shall protect the will of the Rivers people.

“No amount of intimidation or manipulation by anyone no matter how highly placed would change the determination of Rivers people to liberate themselves from those who believe that Rivers money is good enough to settle nonRivers people who are working at cross purpose with the will of the masses,” the party said.  

On its part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Commander of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Rivers State, Mr. Akin Fakorede over the alleged shooting of a lecturer with the Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic (Kenpoly), Dr. Ferry Gberegbe, who is the outgoing Chairman of Kenpoly Academic Staff Union.

Also shot were Marvin Lezor Kpea-ue, Raymond Ledogo and several others at the INEC Collation Center in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Sunday morning of March 10, 2019.

The PDP in a statement issued in Port Harcourt claimed that the F-SARS Commander, in company of scores of SARS officers and military men also carted away all election materials at the Collation Center, after shooting the men.

The PDP claimed that Mr. Fakorede stormed the Collation Center mid way into the collation of results from all the units in Khana Local Government Area with a bag containing fake election results, suggesting that fake results are in circulation.

While calling for the arrest and prosecution of Mr. Akin Fakorede, the PDP appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Chief of Army Staff as well as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Army to as a matter of urgency reprimand all police officers and soldiers involved in the shooting incident and hijacking of the electoral materials at the INEC Collation Center in Bori and other collation centers in Rivers State.