Re-Run Elections: Voters Resist apc, Security Agents’ Rigging Ploy

There were massive voters resistance to ploy by the opposition, All Progressives Congress(APC) in collaboration with security agents to rig last Saturday’s legislative rerun elections across the state.

The Tide monitoring team that visited Eleme and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas indicated that despite low voters turn out, the people resisted plans to upturn election results in most of the polling units by armed security agents working for the APC.

As at 12.10 pm on Saturday when the Senatoral candidate for the Rivers South-East, Senator Olaka Wogu voted in Ward 1 unit3 Eleme, there were reports of hijack of materials at the different polling stations in Eleme except for the intervention of the British Commission Monitoring Team. Before then, electoral materials were hijacked at Ward 8, Aleto Ward 10 and Eteo Ward 6.

In Ogu/Bolo, electoral materials were hijacked at Ward 9 and Unit 3 and attempts were made to remove ballot materials at Ward 7 in Bolo save for the resistance by the voters in the area.

Senator Wogu after voting decried the action of Nigeria military for openly displaying partisanship saying, “ they have desecrated the principle of the Nigerian military and constitution.”

Wogu said despite the development he was sure of victory adding that, “ Eleme is my strong point and from feelers am getting from other local government areas there is no cause for alarm.

He however condemned the delay by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to distribute electoral materials to Akpajo as he blamed soldiers for intercepting smooth distribution of materials to various units in Eleme and some parts of Ogoni.

Also corroborating Senator Olaka’s view, House of Assembly candidate for the PDP in Eleme, Hon. Isaac Kamalu condemned the highhandedness of security officials.

He disclosed that attempts were made to cart away ballot materials at Alode area but were resisted by voters, as he expressed sadness over the role of security men,” the essence of democracy has been eroded by the way and manner the military conducted themselves in this elections.”

Kamalu expressed hope that PDP will win if the results were reflected as they were. He however lamented the manhandling of the party’s chairman, Barrister Phillip Okparaji at the collation centre. He said

Okparaji was barred from entering the collation centre but the people resisted.

On his part, Senatorial candidate for Rivers East, Senator Thompson Sekibo accused APC for using security men to snatch ballot materials in parts of Etche, “ we are winning but the APC came with some security men in Etche to cart away materials.”

Senator Sekibo observed that the biggest flaw was the ‘bogus security arrangement” which has vindicated Governor Wike’s alarm earlier that APC wanted to use security agencies to rig the election.

The Senator said his party will not accept any result that does not eflect what is on ground. He nonetheless commended INEC for prompt distribution of materials in the area.

Later in the afternoon at Ogu in Ogu/Bolo Local Government, the Whip of the State Assembly, Hon. Evans Bipi and Sports Commissioner, Hon. Boma Iyaye were chased away from the collation centre by soldiers.

Also, Special Assistance to the Governor on Inter Party Matters, Barrister Chris Itamunola and other party big wigs were barred from entering Ogu Town.

Barrister Itamunola told newsmen that, “ not withstanding all their boasts, the PDP  has coasted to victory in Ogu/Bolo.”

He said members of the party and voters were able to resist attempts by the APC and some security men to remove ballot materials at Units 11 and 4 in Ward 7 and results were later declared.