APC Sweeps Rivers LG Polls …RSIEC Issues Certificates Of Return, Today

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has won all the Chairmanship seats in last Saturday Local Government Election in Rivers State even as the Peoples Democratic Party boycotted the election.

Announcing the results of the last Saturday election last night, the Chairman/Chief Electoral Commissioner Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Prof.Augustine I. Ahiazu said in the councillorship elections, APC won 297 wards out of 312 wards in the state.

Prof Ahiazu noted that African Democratic Congress(ADC) won Ward 3 in Ahoada West, while Social Democratic Party (SDP) won in ward 6 in Ahoad East Local Government Areas while the election in Ward 6 in Etche was inclusive.

He commended the people of Rivers State for turning out enmass to exercise their civic rights to elect their grassroots leaders, adding that the commission was happy with the free and fair conduct of the elections that did not record violence throughout the exercise in the state.

According to him, the election was held without violence and hitches. There were no reports of violence or snatching of ballot boxes in all the local government Areas where elections held’’,

‘’I am happy things went well. My ad hoc staff did not report any incident of violence. The Chairmanship elections were won by APC in all the Local Government Areas where elections held. Ogba/Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area is the only council in which election was not held because its tenure has not expired’’, he said.

Ahiazu commended the security agencies for ensuring and maintaining adequate security throughout the elections, adding that the state could now move on since all the elections have been held.

In Port Harcourt, the APC won with,23,456 votes,Bonny 12,670, Ahoada East,17,994, while in Abua/Odual local Government, APC won with 41,070.

Akuku-Toru APC won with,48,184, Bonny 51,620,Degema 12,605, Andoni 31,362, Ahoada West,23,580, Eleme 330535, Tai,23,914, Ikwerre18,686, Asari-Toru 24,012,Oyigbo,10,720,Obio/Akpor 149,240, Emohua,62,275, Opobo/Nkoro 13,864,Ogu/Bolo 6,793.

Others Includes Khana,83,690, Gokana 33,577.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor was absent on Saturday as the Local Government election held in the 22 out of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, while the Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr.Adol Dakuku Peterside voted in Opobo, his home town.

Journalists who expected that the Governor would lead other party members to cast his vote for his party were disappointed when it turned out that the Governor was not in the state and could not participate in the election, although heavy down pour in the early hours of Saturday delayed the commencement the election as scheduled.

The officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, (RSIEC) could not arrive at most of the polling units in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area on time due to the rain. As at 10:30 am no election materials at Rumuwoji, Oro-Abali wards 11,12 and 13 of Port Harcourt.

It was the same at ward 8 in Rumukalagbo; Oroji, wards 3 and 2 in Ogbu-nu-abali Civil Centre; ward 19 in Elekahia as well as ward 4 in Port Harcourt Township.

Most of the voters that turned out as early at 9.am returned home because of the heavy rains that delayed the arrival RSIEC officials. Party agents and security officers who arrived at some polling units had to wait for the arrival of RISIEC officials and the electoral materials.

Our correspondent reports that Igwurrita, Ward 12, Unit 10, in Ikwerre Local Government Area most of the voters returned home due to the absence of electoral officials and voting materials.

Accreditation commenced at Eneka Ward 14, Units 9 and 10 in Obio/Akpor Local Government, at 2.pm, while at Opobo, in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area accreditation started at 12.30pm and voting started at about 2.pm.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the April 11, election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, was accredited at Ward 3, Unit 6.and voted at about 3.45pm.

Peterside while speaking to journalists shortly after casting his vote expressed satisfaction over the turnout in his area despite the down pour.

According to him, “the people came out to vote because for once the people had a chance to vote for a candidate of their choice and they are optimistic that their votes will count despite the rains.

“The turnout in Opobo/Nkoro was good and voting is proceeding gradually. From the reports that I am getting from other local governments, voting is going on smoothly,” he said.

Our Reporter, who monitored the process, said materials arrived early at Bonny Local Government Area and elections were concluded at about 3.pm in Wards 2, 3 and 4 while in Eleme, local government area, Ward 4, Unit 2, voters complained that there were no electoral officials and materials.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has invited all the chairmen-elect in the 22 LGAs where election were conducted last Saturday for the presentation of certificate of return to them today.

The acting director, Media and Publicity, Mr Reward Akwu quoted the Commissioner in charge of Media and Public Affairs, Hon Ibiso Dakoru as saying that the ceremony would hold by 12 noon at the RSIEC head office on Aba Road, opposite Bori Camp in Port Harcourt.

It advised the affected officials to be seated 30 minutes before commencement of the ceremony.