Rivers bye-election: Opposition political parties kick against INEC’s decision

Two political parties that participated in the August 18,  Port Harcourt constituency 3 bye-election, are calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission , INEC, to announce the results already collated by electoral officers.

Chairman of Democratic Alternative Rivers State Chapter, Obarasua Johnbull and Chairman of Mass Movement of Nigeria,  Rivers State Chapter, Lucky Ekeji at a joint press conference on August 22., said the decision to suspend the electoral process at the collation stage is against the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

Details of the press Conference :

TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY COALITION OF OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENTED BY HON. OBARASUA JOHNBULL AND HON. LUCKY EKEJI OF NIGERIA IN PORT HARCOURT ON WEDNESDAY 22ND AUGUST, 2018.

As leaders and members of opposition political parties in Rivers state, we find the news of suspension of the PHALGA constituency 3 Bye Elections by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC Rivers state as astonishing, unnecessary and against the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

We recall that the election process had begun on Saturday August 18 with minimal delays. We also noticed that elections in the most of the 142 units in PHALGA constituency 3 had been concluded and results announced at the different units in compliance with relevant provision of the Electoral Act.

Given that there were some pockets of disruptions occasioned by the arrival of the Chief Security Officer to Gov. Nyesome Wike, Mr. Promise Nwosu with thugs and armed security men from Government house to intimidate voters, shooting sporadically and carting away ballot boxes, we can reliably inform Nigerians that Security Agents successfully replled the thugs bringing the situation under control within reasonable time and paving the way for the conclusion of voting. Subsequently, action moved to the collation process, which commenced at the St. Andrews Primary School at about 2pm.

As stakeholders in the process, our Party Agents confirmed at various times between 2pm and 6pm that collation of results (as declared in several units) was in progress. At about 6:20pm INEC Officials directed that collation would commence at the State INEC Head Office; subsequently, Security Agents successfully escorted all required materials to the INEC Office. Surprisingly, party agents were later informed of suspension of collation while everyone else woke up to shocking news of election suspension hinged on electoral violence. This is a white lie that must not stand!

We must state clearly that this is unacceptable, and a disgrace to our democracy. We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately make public the results as declared in the Units and Wards that were collated. We shall no longer fold our hands and see corrupt people steal the power of the electorate, as this is the drama unfolding in the wake of the PHALGA Constituency 3 By-Elections. It is our believe that Mr. Obo Effanga will never associate himself with such level if lies and deception to rub the winner of the by-election of August 18, 2018.

We align with the statement made by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police in a press conference two days ago in which he attested to the fact that the pocket of violence noticed during the election in Rivers State that saw the least of violence, as no single soul was lost or property burnt as was rampant during previous polls.

At the risk of repeating ourselves, we re-iterate that under the existing Electoral Act 2010 as amended, INEC has no power to suspend an electoral process that has started. It can only do so when such a process has not begun. It behooves on INEC to conclude every election process that has already started and such results declared. It is only the tribunal that can intervene thereafter.

Therefore, we strongly call on INEC to promptly conclude the collation process of the PHALGA State Constituency 3 by-election and results released immediately to avert possible self-help by affected stakeholders and civil society mass action.
Hon. Obrasua Johnbull
Democratic Alternative, Rivers State.

Hon. Lucky Ekeji
Mass Movement of Nigeria, Rivers State.