Political party leaders and civil society organisations in Rivers State have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate result collation centres from local government council secretariats to police stations ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing issues of intimidation by opposition agents and manipulation of results during previous polls.

The stakeholders called on the electoral commission to consider alternative venues for collation, arguing that the move could improve transparency, ensure equal access for political parties and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

The call was made in Port Harcourt yesterday.

Former Labour Party chairman in Rivers State, Favour Reuben, alleged that opposition party agents had been denied access to collation centres by ruling party officials at the local government level during previous elections.

Reuben proposed the use of police stations as alternative venues, suggesting that access should be restricted to duly accredited party agents to ensure order and transparency during the exercise.

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Secretary in Rivers State, Ben Ogbugbulam, also backed the call, urging INEC to consider the proposal ahead of the 2027 elections.

Similarly, a human rights advocate, Dr Jackson Omenazu, called on the commission to investigate the allegations and take appropriate measures to safeguard the interests of voters.

Omenazu stressed the need for the electoral umpire to address concerns surrounding the conduct of elections and ensure that the collation process protects the integrity of votes cast by citizens.

The Coordinator of the PILEX Centre, Courage Nsirimovu, urged citizens to monitor INEC and its ad hoc staff throughout the electoral process to promote transparency and accountability.

Nsirimovu said public vigilance would be important in ensuring that electoral officials discharge their responsibilities in accordance with established procedures.

The calls come ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the stakeholders urging INEC to consider measures that would guarantee political parties equal access to collation centres and strengthen confidence in the credibility of election results.

The allegations of intimidation and result manipulation were made by the stakeholders and would require independent investigation by the relevant authorities.