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By Joel Anekwe
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that the results of the 17 local government areas in its custody are real and not tampered with.
This is as the commission continues the process of concluding the suspended Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Rivers, and expressed commitment to completing the process according to its latest timeline.
Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, national commissioner, supervising Bayelsa, Edo and Rivers states made this known in Port Harcourt while speaking at the stakeholders meeting on the ‘Resumption of Election Activities for the Completion of Outstanding 2019 General Elections in Rivers State over the weekend.
She gave assurances to INEC’s commitment in response to questions raised by some of the stakeholders, especially the African Action Alliance (AAC) candidate, Biokpomabo Awara who raised serious questions about the authenticity of the results having been with the commission for nearly three weeks.
The national commissioner also said that the commission did not know who the winner is from the existing result, adding that “the documents were collected and put in the strong room of the INEC and have not been tampered with.”
She also expressed confidence that INEC would get the process “right this time around, we will get it right and conclusive. INEC is here to conclude these elections, we just appeal for the cooperation of all involved.”
At a point during the meeting, the AAC governorship candidate, Biokpomabo Awara stormed out of the meeting alleging that he was not allowed to freely express himself and accusing INEC of taking sides in the matter.
He said: “When sensitive materials are brought to a state, they are taken to the Central Bank. But since three weeks after the election materials have been with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). How credible is it and this is a man that has been accused of being partisan.”
He accused INEC bias in the process saying that the national commissioner will shout you down and we want to rise up against. “We are a people that love peaceful existence but we will not also accept intimidation, we cannot be intimidated. Yes we respect the people that are seated but when people are in collusion, when people will rise up to shout another man down, it shows that the system has been compromised and we doubt the credibility of this process”.
Awara further alleged; “we have it on good record of certificates that have been prepared for the governor and 21 House of Assembly for PDP and one for SDP. We are aware of that and for them to shout us down, not ask question, that is what they are bringing up but we will rise up against it.”
On his part, Governor Nyesom Wike, flanked by the state PDP chairman, Felix Obuah and other PDP supporters vehemently spoke against the claim of violence in Rivers State, warning people making such claims to cease de-marketing the state.
He said: “People talk about violence in Rivers State. I do not agree that Rivers State is a violent state. What causes violence and why must there be violence each time there is election? The only way you can have a peaceful election is only when security agencies refuse to interfere in or manipulate any process, then you will have a peaceful election.”
“Throughout my political career, I have never seen the kind of role the Army played. What has happened to the police officer indicted for manhandling of INEC staff during the rerun in 2016? The same officer played negative roles in these last elections,” he claimed.
He advised INEC to ensure they appoint security personnel of unquestionable character so as to ensure credibility of the collation process and peacefully conclude the election process in the state.
The commission also announced the 17 local government areas where it has collated results for the governorship election.
Administrative Secretary of INEC in Rivers State, Elder Etim Umoh, listed them to include: Ahoada East, Bonny, Akuku-Toru, Obio/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Omuma, Port Harcourt, Ikwerre and Emohua.
Others are Tai, Opobo-Nkoro, Andoni, Eleme, Etche, Ogu-Bolo, Oyigbo and Okrika.
He stated that the local government areas where collation had not been concluded included Khana, Asari-Toru, Degema, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Gokana.
