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Wike accuses INEC of destroying democracy foundations

By Kelvin Ebiri and Ann Godwin
30 May 2016   |   3:38 am
“When the governor say such a thing, the media should probe further by asking him if the declared results of the legislative rerun election were allocated to him or his party.”
Nyesom Wike

Nyesom Wike

INEC reacts to claim

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of destroying the foundations of democracy by plotting to allocate the remaining legislative seats in the state, warning that the people will not accept this, except elections for these positions.

He said the state did not celebrate May 29 as Democracy Day because the foundations of democracy have been obliterated by INEC.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service to mark the first year anniversary of his administration in Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said INEC has perfected plans to allocate legislative seats in Rivers State instead of conducting elections due to the inconclusive rerun in the state.

He said: “We will not celebrate democracy because INEC wants to determine who will represent Rivers State. After two months of cancellation of elections, so that it can allocate some seats to some parties. Is that democracy?

Meanwhile, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, has reacted to Wike’s claim, saying the governor’s allegation that the commission was plotting to allocate votes was untrue and unfounded.

According to Ikoiwak: I’m still assuring you that the remaining election would be hold at a yet-to-be fixed date.

“When the governor say such a thing, the media should probe further by asking him if the declared results of the legislative rerun election were allocated to him or his party.”

“If the declared results were not allocated to him, there is no way INEC can go ahead and allocate the results of an election yet to be held to anybody. There is no plan to allocate legislative seats to any political party in the state,” he said.

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