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Rivers Rerun: Police Smash Fake Result Sheets Printing Syndicate …INEC Has Hidden Agenda -Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) of colluding with a syndicate caught on Saturday printing fake election results sheets.
This follows the arrest of one Mr Atonye Peters and others on Saturday with fake INEC result sheets at a private printing press in D-Line axis of Port Harcourt.
Wike, who briefed newsmen in the presence of party stakeholders yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt, said the bursting of the contracted printer has shown that the electoral umpire was colluding with the opposition, the All ProgressIves Congress(APC) to rig the upcoming re-runs slated for December 10th following a National Assembly resolution.
He expressed worry that until now no information or meeting has been scheduled with stakeholders by INEC on the units, wards where the rerun elections will be conducted, but rather the electoral body was busy scheming with the opposition on how to rig the elections.
The Rivers State governor said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not fold its arms to watch glaring theft of the peoples mandate saying the sensitive material caught with the printers show that INEC is already compromised.
Aside that , he reasoned that INEC has contrived a fresh ploy to shift the elections again,” I will not be surprised if INEC goes ahead to postpone the conduct the elections…We know their antics we know what INEC would want to do.”
According to Wike, the plan is to swap original result sheets with the fake they printed so they can win in the upcoming election but said, “ we are not in Edo this is Rivers State.”
On the claims made by APC that the printer and those caught duplicating INEC sensitive materials as the handiwork of the PDP to malign the opposition, Wike said the evidence is glaring noting that the printer is the cousin of APC guber candidate in 2015 elections and also a card carrying member of the opposition party.
Insisting that the evidence is overwhelming against the APC, Wike displayed the printer, and the other sensitive materials seized from the culprits adding that, “ if the police fails to prosecute them, we will help ourselves, but as law abiding citizens we will want police to their job.”
Wike has also disclosed of plans by the police to bury the matter following the involvement of prominent APC chieftains in a fake result syndicate caught on Saturday in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State governor in a chat with newsmen yesterday said, “ the police must go and arrest Emma Chinda the evidence is overwhelming against him.
The fake result printer when he was interrogated alleged that Emma Chinda gave them the contract to print the materials.
But Wike warned that the party will write to President Buhari as the matter is a dent to his administration’s quest to fight corruption.
“ I’am aware that if Mr President hears this he will never support it, because this is corruption,” the governor maintained.
The Printing Press, Help-Mate Consult, located at #12, Isiokpo Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt, was printing fake result sheets for seven local government areas of the Rivers South-East when the police stormed the facility following a tip-off by a concerned Nigerian.
The Director of Help-Mate Consult, Atonye Petersides, a prominent member of the APC from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, claimed that the printing contract was given to him by an APC chieftain and former commissioner for agriculture under Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led administration, Emma Chinda.
According to him, the printing press has already completed two sets for two local government areas before the police got wind of the illegal act.
He was arrested alongside three of his staff, Richard Koko from Okrika, Nanee Godday from Khana and Tammy Garrick.
Items recovered by the police at the printing press, include state-of-the-art printing machine and computers.
The police also recovered Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Sheets Serial Number Booklets, which the printer used to authenticate the result sheets.
In an interview, Rivers State Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Bro Felix Obuah said the arrest of the fake printers of rerun elections result sheets has vindicated the body on the plan INEC and APC have to rig the forthcoming rerun elections.
The Rivers IPAC Secretary and Chairman, Accord Party, Sir Precious Baridoo, also condemned the plot to use fake result sheets to rig the rerun elections, warning that both the APC and INEC would be resisted.
Also speaking, Hon. Uchechukwu Ichenwo urged the police to prosecute all INEC and Rivers APC officials involved in the printing of the fake rerun elections result sheets.
In their remarks, both the Chairman, Social Democratic Party, Engr Worlu, and Chairman, Nigeria Peoples Party, Deacon Princewill, said that on no account should the matter be swept under the carpet by the federal authorities.
Also, Rivers Police Command said yesterday that it had arrested three persons for allegedly printing fake ballot papers for the re-run legislative election in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed December 10 to conduct the election in the state.
A DSP and Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, told newsmen that the suspects were arrested on Saturday at D/Line area of Port Harcourt.
He said personnel of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) made the arrest.
“ I can confirm the arrest of three suspects. The matter is with us and the Commissioner of Police has ordered discreet investigation.
“ I can assure you that it is being given adequate attention and at the end of investigation, we will come out with our position,” he said.
Omoni said that the state CID was currently handling the matter while the command would make its findings known at the end of the investigation.
He urged the people to give police useful information that would assist it fight crime in the state.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.