The Shame That’s A Rerun …Of Disobedience To Court Order, Brutality

Gov. Wike and Ikoiwak Aniedi

After the Supreme Court judgements that upheld the elections of Rivers and Akwa Ibom States governors Nyesom Wike and Emmanuel Udom, respectively, Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun could not conceal his disappointment when he said, our party has really lost key states.
According to him, even with the dwindling earnings from oil, the two states are indeed too lucrative to lose.
So, there was plan ‘B’ to reclaim them. Luckily, the cases covering state and national Assemblies elections terminated at the Appeal Court and so failed to enjoy the favourable judgement of the Supreme Court. In their instance, rerun was ordered and with a successful outing, what the APC could not win through the polls and the courts will be won in rerun.
With victories in such rerun, the APC hoped to garner sufficient number of lawmakers to unseat the elected governors, using frivolous impeachment claims.
The attempt however failed in Akwa Ibom, with the PDP winning predominantly all the contested seats. That left Rivers as the lone prize left for grabs. And did the desperation show.
In interviews on AIT and Rhythm 93.7 radio station in Abuja and Port Harcourt respectively, former governor Rotimi Amaechi revealed a little of what Rivers was to expect in the rerun to fill the three Senatorial seats, 12 House of Representatives Seats and 22 House of Assembly seats.
The Transport Minister fell short of saying that his party would use the Armed forces against opponents and ensure that the APC won the elections by all means. The state government, unwilling to dismiss such threats with the wave of the hand, petitioned 50 countries’ embassies, the Federal government and all security institutions.
Infact, a competent High Court barred, the Military from deploying its officers and men for election duties in Rivers State, as it is unconstitutional to do so. But that court order was obeyed in its breach.
Before the elections, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George, raised the alarm that not only were military men freely deployed, military uniforms were also allegedly given to thugs who were properly armed.
He said former governor Amaechi was personally spotted at a Hotel in Port Harcourt supervising the activities.
Against repeatedly voiced fears, the State’s Water Resources Commissioner, Walter Ibibia was abducted by gunmen allegedly wearing military uniforms.
The same, using Military gun boat, allegedly hijacked election materials meant for the Commissioner’s Isaka/Ogbogbo, fishing villages Ward in Okrika, and returned later to submit fake results.
In Khana, Rivers Environment Commissioner, Roseline Konya was allegedly manhandled by soldiers in public glare, while the State’s Secretary to Government (SSG), Kenneth Kobani was not only allegedly beaten, he was also arrested by soldiers.
Reports said, the SSG was chained to a chair all through Saturday night without his drugs.
The story was not different in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni where the PDP also alleged that their leaders were thoroughly manhandled by armed men in Military uniforms, their only offence being members of the opposition PDP. These are only part of a short list of tales of anguish endured by the opposition politicians.
Information Commissioner, Dr Tam-George has called on the authorities to call the soldiers to order and release the SSG, just as the House of Representatives candidate, representing Port Harcourt raised the alarm that Ward Collation Officers were nowhere to be found after the end of polling, leaving returning officers to wait endlessly at the Port Harcourt Township School, venue for the Ward Collation.
Even most bizarre is the fact that the APC in each local government area, assigned a Military Major to act on Party  members’ complaints once called on a specific GSM Number. These numbers were sent to APC members in charge of election duty through texts, with which the day’s business plan was executed.
Such was the shame that the Rivers rerun became. A rerun that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) assured the Nigerian nation would be free, fair and credible. A rerun which the nation’s security institutions assured would reflect the wish of the people. And for which additional 6,000 Police men and women were deployed to join 5,000 already on ground and another 2,000 members of the Civil Defence Corp.
Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Elder Ikiowak Aniedi repeatedly assured the state electorate and indeed the parties that he would be impartial as would INEC. He warned that any staff engaged by the Commission that betrays its trust would be sanctioned. Infact, two days to the rerun on Thursday last week, the State REC assured that relevant electoral materials had been received, and that they would get to every polling unit before 8am Saturday, when both accreditation and voting would start.
But on that day, the opposite was true in most areas, even within Port Harcourt, not to talk of those LGAs close to the city.
Regrettably also, after voting in the various units when, collation should start at the Ward Collation Centres and then the LGAs, collation officers were nowhere to be found. Some canvassed that they might have been abducted to produce fake results different from those gathered at the various polling units and to later impose same on the Senatorial District Collation Officers, by force of arms or subtle intimidation.
Such was the doubt cast on some results of the rerun. Another is the cancellation of elections from six LGAs by INEC on account of alleged irregularities including insecurity.
But what was the essence of the heavy security presence in the state?
To prevent crime, criminality and disruption of polls or to tame opposition politicians to the party at the centre? If the earlier was the need, nothing would have gone wrong with the large number of security men, patriotic, professional, purposeful, proactive and principled.
But if the latter was the mandate then they indeed succeeded because the tales of brutality confirm the success of the mission. But what a shame?
Former President Goodluck Jonathan must be heartbroken, that the attempt he made to deepen democracy, by accepting defeat, when other incumbents wouldn’t was for nothing. Those who blamed him for taking that nationalistic step also have enough grounds to say it was not worth the sacrifice. If democracy is what the Rivers rerun of Saturday represents, then, it was not worth the sacrifice of a serving President’s ambition.
This is why the world looks up to President Muhammadu Buhari to contribute his best towards ensuring that democracy thrives. He must not forget his very first remark that truly endeared him to many Nigerians.
“I belong to no one and belong to all”. The President’s seeming indifference to complaints leading to and arising from the rerun contradicts that noble proclamation.
As President, Buhari must see himself as father of the nation and no longer a party leader. He must defend democracy, even if it’s the only thing he achieves in the end.
My Agony is that once again the people’s will may be subverted in the end, if the right steps are not taken. But there always is a moment of reckoning.