A coalition of governorship candidates in Rivers State have accused the resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Rivers State, Obo Effanga of appointing card carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as returning officers in the beleaguered governorship and House of Assembly held in the state on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Warigbani Zebulun, and Secretary, Chibuzor Anele of the coalition and issued in Port Harcourt at the weekend, the the Coalition of Governorship Candidates and Party Chairmen in Rivers State alleged that the said returning officers were mandated to return PDP at all cost.

Zebulun is the governorship candidate of the APDA in Rivers State while Anele is the Rivers State Chairman of the National Democratic Congress Party (NDCP) in Rivers State

They commended the people of the state for their large turnout during the elections.

“We, the Coalition of Governorship Candidates and Party Chairmen in Rivers State wish to commend the good people of Rivers State for coming out en masse to cast their vote for their preferred candidate.”

“The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC Rivers State had earlier appointed a younger brother to the Rivers South East Senatorial District Candidate of PDP, who also is a strong member of PDP as the returning officer for Khana Local Government Area. The REC also in his voodoo dance appointed PDP members as returning officers for Emohua, Eleme, Andoni, OKRIKA, Omuma, Ogu/Bolo, Tai and PHALGA, with an instruction to deliver the PDP.”

“Inspite of the above, the REC paid deaf hears to the unearthical and undemocratic activities of the Guber candidate of PDP who hijacked all electoral materials of Obio/Akpor LGA at the collation center”.

The INEC REC, Obo Effanga was yet to react to this allegation as at the time of this report. Kristina Reports efforts to get him reaction remained abortive up till now as he was yet to respond to calls or text messages to his mobile line. 

The group also accused the state Governor, Nyesom Wike of hijacking election result sheets and materials meant for Obio/Akpor LGA.

“We condemn in strong terms the inordinate and unpatriotic actions of the Governor of Rivers State and gubernatorial candidate of PDP Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike,  who stooped too low to personally hijack the election result sheets and materials meant for Obio/Akpor LGA  during which process, an Army officer was shot by his thugs. This acts goes to confirm our earlier allegations against the Wike-led State government of gun running.”

“It is on record that the State Governor had earlier in his speech commended INEC for her free, fair and credible conduct of the election in the State.  We therefore, express shock at his call for cancellation of the exercise, as his shameful act of thuggery greets his imminent defeat. On the premise of this ugly and shameful acts, the collation of results has been suspended by INEC.”

“We therefore, in the spirit of fairness call on the National Chairman of INEC Prof. Mamood Yakubu to, as a matter of urgency, redeploy the State Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Rivers State to enable the new REC to continue the electoral process.”

The coalition commende the security agencies for “the display of professionalism and ensuring adequate security before, during and after the election, we pray them to maintain the tempo as only those with sinister plans will not appreciate the commendable efforts of the Army”.