The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of elections DIG Lakanu have been accused by sources within the Rivers State Government of mounting undue pressure on the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Efanga to re-inject earlier rejected results from 2 local Governments of the State.
Results
from Emohua, Ikwerre, Okrika and Asari Toru Local Government Areas of
Rivers State were rejected by the Commission through its respective
Local Government Area Electoral Officers (EOs) who confirmed them to be
concocted by the Military at gunpoint. Recall that Rivers State as well
as other States like Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom, strongholds of the Peoples
Democratic Party, witnessed undue militarization during the elections.
Elections
had to be shifted in Akuku Toru local government area of Rivers State
due to what many described as a near-war scenario that reportedly
claimed not less than 15 lives including at least a military officer and
an INEC official. In Okrika 4 Wards could not hold the elections
because Election materials meant for them were hijacked by the military
under the command of one Capt. Inuwa working with the Divisional Police
Officer of the LGA, Nasiru Gambo. Capt. Inuwa was also accused of
leading soldiers later in the same day to confiscate collated results
from the Collation Center.
Similar scenarios played out in
Emohua and Ikwerre LGAs, where the Election Officer claimed to have been
abducted by the Minister for Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The pressure allegedly being mounted by the INEC Chairman has been
described as a complete travesty of democracy which is capable of
undermining the credibility of the entire election. Sources in the know
say Aso Rock is behind the moves to include the concocted results in
order to shore up President Buhari’s electoral fortune to the mandatory
25% of votes in Rivers State.
“INEC Chairman has no business
with deciding what the results should be. Has he become an interested
Party in the election?” asked Barr. Oraye St. Franklyn, a Senior Special
Assistant to the Rivers State Governor. In the meantime, the Commission
is yet to clarify on the veracity of the allegations currently
eliciting wide condemnation by Nigerians.
Source:- Leadersng
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