Hopes of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concluding its scheduled collation of the results of the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State and announcing a winner appear to have been dashed today as there emerged another twist to the tale today.

This instantly caused an uproar across the state as different stakeholders exclaimed foul play, accusing INEC of compromise.

Certificates of Return bearing the names of candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with the imprint of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the name of its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu went into circulation all over social media today.

The said certificates of return bear the names of Ipalibo George, SDP, and Ehie Edison, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, Abinye Pepple, Samuel Ogeh, Linda Stewart, Christian Ahiakwo, Tony Ejiogu, Azeru Opara, Kelechi Nwogu, Tonye Adoki, and Evans Bipi, all of PDP.

• 

• 

Others, also of PDP, were Martin Amaewhule, Obey Igwe, Matthew Dike, Iroanya Opurum, Major Jack, Solomon Wami, Michael Chinda, Anselm Oguguo, and Chibudom Ezu.

When contacted by Kristina Reports, a staff of INEC in Rivers State, who prefers anonymity, denied they were from INEC.

“INEC has not released certificates of return to anyone in Rivers State. The source of these cannot be confirmed and they are not even signed by the Chairman.”

There is currently confusion surrounding the origin of the said documents which were currently trending on social media and what the motives of the circulators were.

Reacting to the development, director general of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council, Chidi Lloyd exclaimed that “the world should see what we are passing through.”

When Kristina Reports queried the authenticity of the documents, the former Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly challenged INEC’s Chairman to deny the origin of the documents, saying “Of course, let Mahmoud deny it.”

One of the lawmakers whose name was on the certificates of return, Abinye Pepple, who represents Bonny constituency in the state House of Assembly declined comments, saying his party will address the press at the appropriate time.

This development appears to have muddled up the already fluid situation in the state as INEC would be in a jinx how to explain the funny development.

With allegations of bias already by the APC and other political parties trailing INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga of allegedly colluding with the state Governor, Nyesom Wike to compromise the process to return him as winner of the election the emergence of these certificates of return deepens the suspicion against INEC.

So far, Wike, the Rivers State Government and the PDP were yet to react to the emergence of the documents.

A staff of INEC, who preferred anonymity, has called on the security agencies to probe the source of the documents with a view to unraveling the mystery surrounding them.