LGA Polls: RSIEC to adopt open-secret ballot system

In its resolve to ensure that the June, 2018 Local Government Council Elections are credible, free and fair, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has adopted the open-secret ballot system for conducting the LGA elections.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner in charge of Political Parties and Monitoring, Prof. Jones Jaja during a stakeholders meeting held at Kpor, headquarters of Gokana Local Government Area.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Electoral Officer in charge of the LGA, Mr. Nwikwor Mene Eric explained that the open-secret, though open, allows voters to make their choice secretly.
Explaining further, Mene stated that under this system, accreditation and release of ballot papers to voters would be done openly while voters would thereafter retire alone to a private place to be provided by RSIEC to exercise his or her franchise.
According to the Gokana E. O, accreditation and voting will take place simultaneously across the state, adding that after voting, all votes must be counted and results announced at the Polling units before being entered into the RSIEC form, which would be signed by representatives of the various political parties, security agents, RSIEC officials and other relevant stakeholders.
In his contribution, the Divisional Police Officer, Kpor Police Division, CSP Nzota Chidi urged the people of Gokana LGA to maintain the existing peace, as according to him, the police will not compromise with anyone fomenting trouble during and after the elections.
CSP Chidi advised them to have it at the back of their minds, that the elections that are about to be conducted by RSIEC must produce winner and loser as well, advising whoever that emerged as the winner to be magnanimous in victory while the loser should show maturity in accepting defeat in good faith.
He pleaded with RSIEC to make available to the Gokana police division all the names of qualified candidates for the LGA elections from Gokana, so as to have a regular meeting with them. Noting that any of the aspirant, their sponsors and supporters who breached the existing peace being experienced in Gokana will be made to face the full wrath of the law.