Rivers parties tackle INEC over postponed elections

For postponing this weekend’s by-elections without allegedly consulting them, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come under a fierce criticism of the political parties in Rivers State.

Speaking under the aegis of the state’s Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the parties said they were shocked that the electoral umpire could “arbitrarily” suspend the elections without recourse to them.

They argued that INEC erred by allegedly not communicating the reason (s) for the postponement to the relevant stakeholders.IPAC chairman, Felix Obuah, said the group deems INEC’s decision as suspicious.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that the state has been relatively peaceful, with the residents carrying on with their businesses across the state lawfully and without any incidence of skirmishes in any part of the state as erroneously alleged. Compared to other states where elections and re-run elections have taken place, Rivers State can safely be described as a haven mainly due to the efforts of the state government in providing logistic support to the security agencies for maintenance of law and order,” he said.

“Security concerns are a national and indeed, universal phenomenon and not peculiar to Rivers State,” Obuah stated.He contended that for INEC to cite this as basis for the postponement of the polls was unacceptable.

“We also make bold to say that we are very ready and most prepared for the elections because we have worked hard to prove to the people that we are capable and remain their best choice to pilot their affairs which are self-evident. We, therefore, urge INEC to reverse itself and go ahead to conduct the elections it had so much promised and announced its readiness for,” Obuah stated.