ABUJA – The Independent National Electoral Commission is to institute an Administrative Panel of Inquiry into observed infractions that almost marred just concluded re-run legislative elections in Rivers State.
This is even as the Commission has resolved to introduce and follow through with “e-collation” and “e-transmission” of election results, to reduce tension in the system.
In his world press briefing shortly before he declared open, Capacity Development Workshop for INEC Press Corps at the weekend, the Commission chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu promised to “appropriately sanction” any staff that is found to have disobeyed clear rules and regulations of the electoral process.
“The Commission is also aware of reports of infractions by some of INEC staff ranging from absence from their duty posts to partisanship in the discharge of their duties”, he stressed.
Prof. Yakubu also urged the security agencies to “investigate all violations of the nation’s laws before, during and after the last re-run elections in Rivers State, including alleged unsavoury roles played by actors in uniform.
He regretted what he described as disruption of election materials in Okrika and Gokana, reported heavy shootings in Biata and Bodo, hijacking of materials in Andoni, Oyibo and Ogu-Bolu, hostage taking in Akoku-Toru, physical attack and kidnapping of election personnel resulting in electoral consignment for Ward 16 in Khana Local Government Area (LGA).
To this end, the INEC boss promised working with the security agencies to uncover and punish those involved in the dastardly act.
Prof. Yakubu further urged the security agencies to unmask identities of “the thugs that threatened to burn down our personnel inside the vehicles conveying them Polling Units (PUs) in Etche resulting in the massive disruption that made it impossible for elections to be conducted in in a substantial part of the Federal and State Constituencies in the LGA.”.
The INEC chairman however, greeted the courage of certain electoral officers and umpires, who braved all the odds, violence and injuries to discharge their duties.
These according to the INEC chairman, included, Prof. Oji Onu Ekumankama, Returning Officer for Rivers East Senatorial District, Mr. Chukwudi Curtis Odepke, substitute Collation/Returning Officer for Emuoha/Ikwere, Ms. Mary Tunkuyo, an Electoral Officer and two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Messrs. Agona Isaac and Ademola Oluwalore Toba.
According to him, 80 election results from 2015 general election were cancelled through judicial actions and out of these, 37 were from Rivers State. He added that after repeated re-runs the INEC has yet one to conclude due to violence.
He however, urged “perpertrators of violence during elections to regard politics and competition for office as monumental responsibilities that call for civility and candor, not aggression and blood-letting”.
