Tai: Obuah, Nwogu, Others Vow To Resist INEC’s Move

The Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in Rivers State, has reiterated its decision to resist any attempt by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the  cancelled results of March 19,2016 parliamentary rerun election in Tai Local Government Area of the state.
The chairman of the party in the state, Bro Felix Obuah, in a statement in Port Harcourt said the move by the National Commissioner of INEC, Amina Zakari to validate the already voided result of Tai Constituency rerun election was a deliberate action to throw the state into confusion.
The party chieftain accused the candidate for Rivers South East Senatorial District in All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s House of Representatives candidate in the constituency, Hon. Barry Mpigi for conniving with the INEC to release the result of the ill fated election in the area.
He said the people of the state will resist any deliberate action by INEC to breach the existing peace and harmony in the state. In his reaction,  PDP State Publicity Secretary, Hon Samuel Nwanosike berated Zakari saying that any attempt by INEC or APC-led Federal Government to declare the result of Tai or any other local government area election that was already cancelled would be considered as a coup against the people of the state.
Reacting to the development, the PDP  candidate for Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Senator Olaka Nwogu also described INEC’s decision to release the March 19 Tai Constituency rerun election result as a civilian coup by the electoral commissioner and APC –led Federal Government against his party and himself.
Nwogu vowed to resist any attempt by INEC to release the result of cancelled  Tai Constituency, saying that he will use all legal means to revalidate the people’s mandate.
He said Tai is for PDP like any other area in Ogoni land, assuring the party will win all parts of Ogoni any time the rerun election is conducted in the area.
In his reaction, the PDP Chairman for Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Hon Monday Ngbor said that the Zakari’s pronouncement was a personal one and not the official position of INEC.
He said the people of the senatorial district are prepared for the proposed rerun election in the area because INEC has repeatedly announced that the rerun election will take place in eight local government areas including Tai LGA.
The party chieftain who highlighted some irregularities that marred the March 19, rerun legislative election in Tai, said APC wanted to stage a civilian coup, adding that the area was under the siege of the APC thugs during the cacelled election.
“The electoral officer in charge of Tai LGA came on air, through AIT, NTA and other media and said that Tai election had been cancelled; INEC in Rivers State also said the same thing following the tension and kidnap of an electoral officer including the hijacking of ballot boxes and harassment and arrest of many PDP leaders and followers by APC soldiers.
How come INEC commissioner will now announce that Tai election result of March 19, 2016 would be released soon, the PDP chieftain queried.
Also speaking on the issue, the former Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District Senator Lee Maeba, Deputy Chairman  of PDP in Rivers State, said INEC risks whatever is remaining of its integrity if it declares the results of Tai local government.

Enoch Epelle