RSIEC Commends Amaechi’s Non-Interference In Polls

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has been commended for not interfering in the just concluded local government elections in the State.

Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Prof. Nimi Briggs made the remarks, yesterday while presenting the end of tenure report of the commission to the Governor in Government House, Port Harcourt.

According to him, “We want to thank you for allowing us do this work without you in any way interfering with what we were doing. There was never a day you rang me up as chairman of the commission to decide for me.”

“You did not starve my commission of funds, you funded us very well and we were able to do our best,” he said.

Prof Briggs also described RSIEC as the benchmark for all electoral bodies, recalling that despite the short period he was appointed in 2007 with the task of conducting credible elections, the Commission was able to carry out her duties successfully, but regretted that the commission could not come up with a report immediately due to series of litigations.

According to him, “When we came in 2007, it was late, so, we started preparing for the first round of elections which we started in 2008 and when we finished those elections, there were series of litigations, we couldn’t compile the first report, the first report became ready in 2010 which was titled “ Making the Votes Count”, as I speak to you now, there is no election outstanding in 2011, this commission has conducted all elections, released all results and signed the certificates of return to all those that won,” he said.

Responding, Governor Amaechi thanked members of the commission for being bold in discharging their duties without interference and assured them of his administration’s support.

Amaechi said, “I promise to fund you but I also believe that the law should be made for RSIEC to be independent. That is the best way to stop the chairman coming to ask the governor for money. I was worried about your reputation, I was worried that if the electoral process wasn’t properly handled, your reputation would be marred and virtually every member of the commission would have their reputation marred too. But I’m happy that you ended your first tenure in such a way we would leave here feeling very happy”, he said.

Amaechi explained that governance was a collective responsibility, stressing that human capital development was key to state and national development.

“We are competing in the comity of states, if we continue to make mistakes, we may likely be the 36th State and the only way we can move forward is to bring the best of our materials to man the necessary institutions that we have, we can’t afford to throw away that opportunity,” he said.