Rivers APC Raises Alarm Over Plans To Halt Elections Tribunal

The Rivers State Chapter
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over alleged plans by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Gesila Khan, to deny the party access to election materials used for the March 28 and April 11 elections in the state in preparation for the party’s appearance at the Election Petition Tribunal.
The party, in a press statement issued on Saturday, expressed shock that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state could bar the party agents from accessing INEC premises to photocopy result sheets for the election.
The statement signed by the state chairman of APC, Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, disclosed that the APC agent wrote to the REC shortly after INEC announced winners of the polls, requesting for the Voter Registers, Materials Distribution Forms E25A, Query Log for accredited voters, and Results Sheets for all the 23 local government areas of the state.
According to him, “We made this request because under the Electoral Act, all results and other materials used for elections are meant to be available and accessible to all parties as soon as the elections are over to enable those who wish to challenge the results at the Elections Tribunal do so within the 21 days prescribed by law for doing so. It is unfortunate that almost two weeks after, Mrs Khan has refused to grant our request despite several reminders.”