Two different groups of women have protested in Rivers State demanding for the removal and retention of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Effanga. One group wants Effanga to go while the other wants him to stay.

One group took their protest to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office along Aba Road where they threatened to remain and possibly go naked should the REC not be removed.

The other marched to the state headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) at Forces Avenue and Moscow Road, respectively.

In a telephone conversation with Kristina Reports, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Joeba West said the women were demanding for liberation, justice, and security which desire they expressed through the ballot during the governorship polls but which realization was now being threatened by the actions of INEC.

She said the women of the state insist that only seven local government results were collated and announced as at the time of suspension of the process and wondered where INEC got its acclaimed 17 LGAs’ results.

West stated that what the women want was for INEC to stick to the seven LGAs’ results, cancellation of the already compromised results and conduct a fresh election across the affected LGAs.

But at the DSS and Police headquarters, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ukel Oyaghiri said Rivers women were worried that other states that participated in the elections have had the process concluded while that of Rivers State was yet to be concluded.

She said: “We cannot keep quiet as Rivers women. During the elections some of us were beaten, brutalized and humiliated,” stressing that Rivers women want the already collated results to be released and a winner announced.

“We are saying no more delays, we want our results to be declared. Rivers State is in a coma. We have come to tell the Commissioner of Police that the INEC REC that they want to be removed should not be removed. We want the REC to remain and we want INEC to do the needful”.

“We did elections and the results are with INEC and INEC should release the results. Without the completion of collation and announcement of results our votes will not count; release our results”.  

Joeba West contradicted Oyaghiri’s claims saying “INEC has said they will come and collate results but Rivers women are asking what they are collating, is it results?”

“Only seven LGAs were announced as at the time of suspending the process, how come we are hearing of 17 LGAs? These 17 LGAs are not known to women of Rivers State. Only the authentic results should be announced, a fresh election should be held for other areas.”

Responding to the women at the Police headquarters, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimeyin thanked the women for their peaceful conduct during the protest, assuring them that the Police will take appropriate actions where necessary to ensure their grievances were addressed.