INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended
the bye-election for the Port Harcourt Constituency lll State Assembly
seat held Aug. 18 in the State.
Mr Obo Effanga, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in
Rivers, who announced the suspension in a terse statement on Saturday
night, cited widespread violence as reasons for the suspension.
The bye-election was conducted by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill the vacancy left by former state
Assemblyman, Mr Victor Ihunwo, now Chairman, Port Harcourt City Local
Government Area.
Effanga stated that because the exercise was marred by widespread
violence, it was suspended in accordance with Section 26 of the
Electoral Act 2010.
“INEC has decided to suspend the election forthwith,’’ he said
He did not give a new date for the by-election.
Effanga said the Commission in full readiness for the election had
deployed personnel and materials to the 142 polling units involved.
The REC explained that the election commenced peacefully in all the
units, with the Commission’s permanent and ad-hoc personnel reporting
to their duty posts well ahead of time with the required materials.
“However, midway into the elections miscreants and hoodlums
accompanied by heavily armed security personnel in uniform, stormed the
various polling units and Registration Areas, disrupting voting
activities, destroying and carting away election materials, including
smart card readers and ballot boxes. In addition, many election
officials were manhandled, injured and held hostage.”
“As a result of this widespread and wanton disruption of the
electoral process as reported from the field by the Supervisory
Presiding Officers, Supervisors from the Commission and having reviewed
the situation, the Commission, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) has decided to suspend
the elections forthwith.”
NAN reported earlier that suspected hoodlums accused of working for
one of the major political parties attacked election officials in an
attempt to hijack election materials.
Mr Gbekwele Chidi, a voter and witness, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.
He said that the attack took place at Nkpolu-Oroworokwu community.
NAN reports that the incident took place specifically at Obiri
Okah, Ward 10, Polling Units 023 & 024 in Nkpolu-Oroworukwu
community.
Chidi said trouble started when suspected political thugs who
attempted to force their way into the centre, were stopped by some
unarmed police personnel at the polling units manned by INEC personnel.
“So, after the police refused them entry into the centre; the
thugs resorted to throwing stones and bottles at the police personnel,” he said.
He said that the hoodlums, thereafter, started firing gunshots into
the air apparently to frighten and intimidate voters and the unarmed
police personnel.
“Later, some armed policemen in their vans arrived the scene
and started shooting and firing teargas to disperse the rampaging thugs.
“After dispersing the hoodlums, the police then took the election materials, INEC officials and NYSC members to their station,” Chidi said.
Mr Chichi Agbamoro, a Principal Administration Officer of INEC, Abuja office, also confirmed the incident.
He told NAN that thugs attacked INEC officials and voters at Ward 10, Units 30, 206 and 207 at Nkpolu-Oroworokwu Town Hall.
Agbamoro, who claimed to have witnessed the attack, said that the
hoodlums came to the polling units armed with guns, machetes and
bottles.
“When they arrived, they started shooting and thereafter snatched the election materials to unknown destination,” she said.
NAN reports that the bye-election was largely peaceful at Ejiegbu 2
Ward 10, unit 44 and Mgbundukwu Ward 15, Unit 3, Polling Units 001, 006
and 007.
There was large turnout of voters with presence of unarmed police
personnel and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC) at the centres.
Bright Fabian, one of the APC party agents at ward 15 praised INEC for the early arrival of election materials to the centre.
“This is the most peaceful ward because there has not been any
case of violence. Voters and party agents have been peaceful and
orderly,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers Command, DSP Nnamdi
Omoni, who confirmed the violence to NAN, said the state Commissioner of
Police, Zaki Ahmed, was leading a team to the affected wards.
-NAN