“There is preponderance of evidences to suggest that INEC did not handle the Governorship election diligently” -Rivers Leaders

Some leaders and concerned Elders in Rivers State have spoken concerning the political impasse in the State.
They said there is ‘no moral justification to continue with the suspended electoral process as the outcome will be prejudiced and contentious’.
An open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, captioned “Rivers State election crisis: Need to urgently stop looming insecurity and disaster”, signed by His Excellency, Rufus Ada George, former Governor of Rivers State, Alabo T.O Graham-Douglas, Former Minster of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HRH Alabo Prof. D.M.J Fubara, Emeritus Professor of GEODSY Nigeria centenary Distinguished Academic, Chief Sampson Agbaru, former Secretary to the State Government, Rear Admiral O. Fingesi, former member of Supreme Military Council/Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and His Excellency, Group Captain (Rtd) J.T. Ben -Kalio, former military Administrator Yobe State, stated that they were constrained to swing into action, following the impending danger that could befall the state because of the suspended March 9, 2019 Governorship and State Assembly election.
They said their findings have revealed the improper conduct of the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Effanga, which clearly showed the recruitment of card carrying members of a political party, as Returning Officers and Collation officers at various Local Government Areas, against the provision of the Electoral Act.
They further stated that despite the delisting of four INEC officials clearly linked to the said political party, “there is preponderance of evidences to suggest that INEC did not handle the governorship election diligently and any further action by the Rivers State INEC, as presently constituted in the state could over heat the polity and aggravate the security challenges in the state”.
They therefore called for the immediate investigation into the activities of the Rivers State INEC, in view of the ceaseless crisis arising from all the elections in the state since 2015.
While commending gallant Military officers who were able to protect voters in the State, they expressed sadness at the death of innocent citizens, including Military officers and Police men in Akuku Toru, Khana and Obio/Akpor collation centres and other LGAs.
They called on the President to urgently intervene, “because the collation and announcement of the results of 17 unnamed LGAs after two weeks of suspension of the electoral process could precipitate public disorder”.

A copy of the open letter made available to Africa Update reads: