RSIEC Denies Opposition Parties’ Claims …Issues Degema Re-Run Guidelines, Today

Against the backdrop of the allegation by the opposition political parties in the state over. non-release of funds to them by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the latter has debunked the claims, saying, the local government elections in Degema Local Government Area are yet to be concluded.

The opposition political parties had accused RSIEC of withholding funds due to them following their participation in the local government elections.

But reacting to their claims, RSIEC’s Director of Press, Mr Sam Woka told The Tide that the Degema  local government elections were yet to be concluded.

According to him, RSIEC would conduct elections in two wards in the area, saying, guidelines for the re-run election in the wards where the elections were cancelled on September 17 would be released today.

The opposition political parties, however, called on the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe the activities of RSIEC in the past four years. The opposition political parties alleged that the call became necessary following the commission’s inability to pay their election grants released by the state government.

The 53 opposition parties which made the call yesterday alleged that all the political parties that took part in the September 17 Degema local government elections were yet to receive their grants two weeks after the elections.

The leader of the opposition political parties, Ali Omah of the National Solidarity Democratic Party, (NSDP) who spoke on behalf of the group alleged that the commission had been tossing them around since after the election.

Omah alleged that out of the N8million released by the Rivers State government for the political parties participation in the election, RSIEC released only N4.5million to some political parties, saying, others were yet to receive any grant.

According to him, the Chairman of RSIEC, Prof Nimi Briggs at a meeting with the political parties promised to pay the money to the parties after the elections, saying, they were surprised that the  payment was still lingering till date.

“We want the Rivers State House of Assembly and the governor to intervene on the  matter because elections are over”, he said.

The opposition parties further expressed concern that the tenure of the present members of RSIEC would expire next month and that  if they were dissolved , the grants might never be paid to them in view of the Nigerian factor.

They also alleged that they had written several letters to the commission on the issue without any response, adding that government should direct the commission to release the funds to the political parties which participated in the elections.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru (5th right) in a group photograph with clergymen and other dignitaries after the thanksgiving service to mark Nigeria’s 51st Independence Anniversary in Port Harcourt, last Sunday.