INEC, Wike plotting to rig gov election, parties allege

Five Rivers State opposition political groups have promised to fight any effort to rig the state’s gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections on March 18.

During a joint news conference in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the parties accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of colluding with the state government to sabotage the election.

The All Progressives Congress, the National Rescue Movement, the Labour Party, the African Democratic Congress, and the Action Alliance are the parties.

Tonye Cole, the APC governorship candidate, accused the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, of plotting to clamp down on opposition parties during the election.

“We demand that INEC stop all government officials from accessing the collation centers,” Cole added.

“We also want INEC to limit the movement of government officials, especially the Governor and Local Government Chairmen at the collation centres, as their presence will compromise the electoral process.

“We want an election that is peaceful, free, and fair. The collation centers should only be accessible to certified party agents.

“Foreign missions and international observers should pay special attention to the Rivers State polls because the Rivers State government has finalized plans to rig the elections on Saturday in collaboration with INEC officials.”

“INEC should assure us that the BVAS will work this time and that results would be uploaded at the polling places,” he said.

“Therefore, on March 18, there should be enough security at the Local Government collation centers.”

Similarly, Sobomabo Jackreech, the NRM governorship candidate, accused INEC of conspiring with Wike to rig the elections even before March 18th, and urged the commission to come clean.

“The information we have is that they have finalized plans to rig at the local government collation centers, and INEC is working with them,” he said.

“We are not ready for the violence, which is why we are urging INEC to come clean by asking the state governor and LGA Chairmen to stay away from collation centers.”

Tonte Ibraye, the ADC governorship candidate, has vowed to resist any form of rigging.

When contacted, INEC Chief of Voter Education and Publicity in Rivers, Mr Mark Usulor, denied the allegations.

“That is not real and can never be true,” Usulor stated. It is a false allegation, as well as fake news and disinformation.

“Such an allegation should be dismissed since it is without foundation.

“We are a transparent electoral body even if we had some problems in the last election.

“But that doesn’t mean we are conspiring with any political party or government because it is not in our ethics.

“We are here to conduct an election that is credible and acceptable to the people of Rivers State.”

Chris Finebone, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, also said that the parties were propagating baseless fears and propaganda.

“In the last election, the governor was allowed to vote after many hours because of the malfunction of the BVAS machine, and he then went for his residence,” Finebone explained.

“Everything you’ve heard about him going around trying to persuade people is false. Nothing of the such happened, and I assume you were watching the election.

“What is happening is that they are anticipating their loss and attempting to build the groundwork for a narrative that would explain their failure in the election.

“The governor does not intend and will never try to influence anybody, including INEC. On Saturday, he will do nothing but vote and return home.”