The Rivers state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has kicked against the slated collation of the march, 9th elections saying INEC are playing the dictates of governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Collation of results of March 9 governorship and states Assembly elections are resuming tomorrow in the Southsouth state.
Chris Finebone, the party’s Publicity Secretary revealed yesterday in Port Harcourt, ahead of the resumption. APC accused Wike of desperation to be returned as governor, consequently depriving Biokpomabo Awara, the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) of his mandate.
The APC was stopped by the Supreme Court from fielding a candidate in the state elections when they could not agree over their party primaries, subsequently backing the 40-years old AAC flag bearer.
May Agbamuche-Mbu, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa, and Edo states, disclosed in Port Harcourt during the weekend at a stakeholder meeting that the commission cannot take side with any political party or candidate.
Governor Wike and his AAC challenger Awara were among the stakeholders at the meeting.
Agbamuche-Mbu insisted that the results of the elections were not tampered with, but was kept in INEC’s strong room, he subsequently called on Rivers residents to be law abiding and allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the rounding up of the controversial elections.
However, Rivers APC, said: “We condemn in strong terms, the so-called timeline and activities to conclude the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, as announced at the stakeholders meeting. It is a mere pretence, well-organised and choreographed by INEC, in its bid to work from the answer to question.
“The ultimate result can only be to announce their (INEC’s) preferred partner and collaborator (Wike) as the winner, against the AAC’s candidate (Awara), who was clearly leading before collation was aborted (on March 10). Whether INEC will succeed in its scheming will be seen soon.
“Several actions of INEC had prepared the minds of many that the entire exercise was skewed to favour Wike and the PDP, leaving in the process, several questions without answers.
“How come that Wike knew about the 17 local government areas, which results had been allegedly collated and had posted same on his (Wike’s) official Twitter handle, long before INEC made the announcement? Answers to this and other questions will continue to hang on the neck of INEC like a shackle.”
Meanwhile, Wike, through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, slammed that APC’s accusation against him was meaningless and senseless.
