Rivers rerun: INEC and politicians at logger heads over results
– Aniedi Ikoiwak, Rivers state resident electoral commissioner (REC) said the commission cannot be forced by politicians to announce results – Ikoiwak presented certificate of return to the 11 members elected to the state’s House of Assembly Aniedi Ikoiwak, Rivers state resident electoral commissioner (REC) on April 7, fired back at politicians over its refusal […]
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– Aniedi Ikoiwak, Rivers state resident electoral commissioner (REC) said the commission cannot be forced by politicians to announce results
– Ikoiwak presented certificate of return to the 11 members elected to the state’s House of Assembly
the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
Aniedi Ikoiwak, Rivers state resident electoral commissioner (REC) on April 7, fired back at politicians over its refusal to announce the results that fell short of expectations.
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NAN reports that the REC, who spoke in Port Harcourt at the presentation of certificate of return to 11 members-elect of the state’s House of Assembly, said that nobody could force the commission into declaring results that fell short of expectations.
Ikoiwak decried the violence that characterised the March 19 parliamentary rerun elections in the state, stressing that the residents did not deserve such. He insisted that nobody should expect results where elections did not take place.
“You cannot expect results where elections did not take place,’’ he said.
The REC, who reiterated that the commission was always ready to carry out its mandate of conducting elections in a transparent manner, pleaded with politicians to see themselves as bridge builders.
He further revealed that INEC would analyse the negative and positive actions before taking decisions on matters affecting elections.
Ikoiwak challenged politicians to struggle to make the environment conducive for elections in the state, and urged members-elect to see their certificate as an opportunity to better the lives of their constituents, saying it was not just about receiving certificate of return.
He urged the successful elected public officers to improve the lives of the people of their constituencies through the introduction of people-oriented legislations in the assembly.
Those who received certificates of return were members-elect from Obio/Akpor 1, Obio/Akpor 11, Akuku Toru 1, Ahoada East 1 and Ahoada 11, all of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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Others were representatives of Emohua, Onelga 1, Onelga 11 and Omuma, all PDP and those of Akuku Toru 11 and Opobo/Nkoro, who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fired at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Tonye Alalibo over his disqualification from the rerun Rivers state legislative elections.
It was reported that Alalibo, who is the candidate for Akuku-Toru constituency 11, was barred from participating in re-run election in the state.
The commission’s resident electoral commissioner in the state said the judgment of the election tribunal and court of appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election.
It would be recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the constituency’s election with 2,970 votes. The resident electoral commissioner explained that, two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP notifying it that the party and its candidate had been exempted from participating in the exercise.
Meanwhile, Today.ng reports that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has revealed a shocking reality confronting the commission ahead of the 69 elections to be conducted across the country this weekend.
The post Rivers rerun: INEC and politicians at logger heads over results appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.