PDP leads in Rivers polls
• Party clinches 10 constituencies, APC one • INEC cancels elections in eight
• Wike, Peterside trade accusations • Fayose blames Buhari for violence
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared winner in 10 state constituencies in Saturday’s rerun House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.
The party won in Akuku Toru 1, Omuma, Degema, Ahoada East 1, Ahaoda East 2, Emohua, Akuku – Toru 2, Obio- Akpor 1, Obio-Akpor 2 and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Opobo.
In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the cancellation of elections in Etche and Asari-Toru local councils bringing the total number of councils where elections were cancelled to eight.
The Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, has blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, for the incident that led to the shooting to death of the aide to his chief of staff yesterday by security operatives.
But Peterside has refuted Wike’s claim, insisting that he too narrowly escaped death after his vehicle was attacked by gunmen in two utility vehicles on his way from the airport.
He said his orderly, Emman Esi was shot by the unknown gunmen.
In a statement released yesterday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, gave the reason for the cancelation, saying:“Further to our earlier pronouncement on the suspension of the re-run in the six local government areas of Khana, Bonny, Gokana, Andoni, Tai and Eleme, following disturbances and violence that impeded the electoral process in those parts of the state, it has become necessary to suspend elections in Etche and Asari-Toru councils for the same reasons.
“Please note that the suspension of the re-run elections by INEC is necessitated by the need to forestall breakdown of law and order in the event of further aggravation of crisis.
“INEC needs to put all stakeholders on notice that we are still studying the situation in the other 15 local councils where collations are currently going on.”
The electoral umpire further cited violence, snatching of ballot boxes, non-compliance to electoral law as part of the reasons for cancellation.
It was learnt that the commission would not conduct a re-run of the national and state legislative elections in the eight affected local governments areas until it has conducted a staff audit of its ad-hoc personnel that were deployed to conduct the elections on behalf of the commission
In another development, Wike and the Minster of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi stormed the police station in Mile 1 over results for Ward 10 of Port Harcourt City Council as the electoral official in charge of the ward, allegedly went missing on Saturday but re-surfaced at the state capital on Sunday and was promptly whisked away to the station.
While Amaechi was accompanied by Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, director general of Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Dr. Dakuku Peterside, in Wike’s entourage were former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Opara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Azubuike Emeregini, senatorial candidate of the PDP for Rivers East, Chief George Sekibo and others. Hundred party supporters of both parties took over the premises of the police station, spilling over to the ever-busy Ikwerre Road, causing a major traffic gridlock.
There was also heavy security presence as soldiers, policemen and men of the Department of State Security who accompanied the party leaders were positioned strategically on the premises. Later the party leaders drove out of the station with their supporters. What transpired there wasn’t really clear as at press time.
Both APC and PDP had accused each other of hijacking the collation officer in order to manipulate the results.
Blaming Peterside for the shooting of the aide to his Chief of Staff, Wike said PDP supporters had chased the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 election from Isiokpo, in Ikwerre local council to Port Harcourt following allegations that he, in company of the APC House of Assembly candidate for the council, snatched the result sheet.
Wike explained that the electoral officer had told the PDP stalwarts that he wanted to take the result for Ikwerre Constituency to INEC office in Port Harcourt. But when the electoral officer did not stop at INEC office in Port Harcourt, they chased them to the DSS office where he and Peterside took refugee.
DSS officers were alleged to have shot at the Chief of Staff’s aide who was among the people chasing Peterside and the electoral officer.
Besides, Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose has said President Muhammadu Buhari must be held accountable for the violence and loss of lives in the rerun elections.
He said members of the president’s party, the APC were emboldened to unleash violence on the people of Rivers State and other states in Nigeria because they know the president won’t lift a finger provided his party members are the ones perpetrating evil.
He also called for the immediate sacking of the Chairman of Independent Electoral National Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for “shoddy preparation for the election.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers State government has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of two of its officials, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani and Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects, Cyril Wite.
According to Fayose : “Those who found fault with the Ekiti state governorship election in which soldiers and other security agents made sure there was no violence and no lives were lost during and after the election should be asked what the Rivers election in which eight people were killed and several others injured will be called.”
Fayose who spoke yesterday through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said President Buhari’s way was to protect his party people, hence their boldness to perpetrate evil.
The governor maintained that Buhari’s culpability in the killings in Rivers State and the manner INEC has destroyed the legacy of free, fair and transparent elections bequeathed to Nigeria by the PDP government former President Goodluck Jonathan was not in doubt.
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13 Comments
Rivers of blood. When can blood not your ambition. Man die go
Hold APC, Amaechi & Dakuku responsible. The blood they have spilled will speak against them forever.
why not pdp.
Let APC learn how to accept defeat in an election and there will be peace. If you conduct this election ten times over, PDP will win it twelve times. South South people cannot be won by propaganda which has been the hallmark of APC even at Federal Level. As things stand today many people who voted for APC are regretting it. Let them start reading the hand writing on the wall before it is too late.
This INEC under the present leadership lacks courage and the will-power to do things right at first attempt. With the spate of cancellations, re-run etc. the 2019 Elections may take them 12 calendar months to conclude. From Kogi to Bayelsa..now Rivers. Associated costs and tension is killing. If Nigeria must move forward politically (and economically because the two are interwoven) I suggest that the present leadership of INEC be critically reviewed.
Wise words. I bet they don’t read Guardian unfortunately.
The greed to control oil producing state by APC is what is causing all the killings in River state and the incompetency of the leadership of INEC is to blame for all the inconclusive elections, i must give kudos to the past leadership of INEC/PDP for conducting elections that were free and fair compare to this army arrangement call election by APC
What Gov. Fayose is saying and the report by Guardian calls for soul searching and to tell ourselves the truth. Therein (the truth) only can Nigeria and her people be great again. President Buhari must not be seen to be supporting the evil perpetrated by his APC party members, by turning the other eye where they are clearly the cause of pandemonium. the wrath of God may be invoked if the “change mantra” is selectively applied in the governance of the state. What is meat for the goose should be meat for the gander.
what evidence do u have when both both parties are blaming each other. its not enough to say Buhari is turning deaf ears, rather try and be rational in your analysis
I wonder if this deacon reads his bible at all. Have you investigated the claims of both sides. Listen to what your bible tells you deacon and not “them talk say”
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST IMMEDIATELY DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE STATE. THE RECKLESS IMPUNITY IN THE STATE MUST BE SUBDUED AND AND HAND OVER THE DAY TO DAY RUNNING OF THE GOVERNMENT OF RIVERS STATE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENSENTATIVES. ALL THESE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST DO WITHOUT ANY FUTHER DALAY, IF WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE END OF OUR MUCH FOUGHT FOR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. I WARN ALLOWING THIS RECKLESS IMPUNITY TO GO UNCHALLENGED WILL SPELL DOOM AND DISASTER
Foolish talk. This is what APC is planning. It will never work. The crisis and killings were perpetrated by the military, the police, DSS and APC thugs and cult boys. Rivers people are resolute and are strongly behind the governor and his government.
A clear indication of Nigerians political resentment against victory through deception. What happened in AKWA IBOM, ABIA, BAYELSA and RIVERRS are clear testimonies of an ongoing political realignment that will cause a positive change of administration in 2019.
We will review and take appropriate action.