ABUJA – Independent National Electoral Commission has constituted a three-man investigative panel to probe alleged malpractices in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers State.
In a press statement yesterday by Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu (Secretary to the Commission) the panel is headed by Mrs. Thelma Iremirem (head and supervisory national commissioner for Rivers State). Other members of the panel are: Col. M.K. Hammanga and Prof. Lai Olurode.
“Further to the allegation made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday 28th March, 2015 in Rivers State and its call for the cancellation of the exercise, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set up a fact finding mission to ascertain the veracity of the claims and allegations and to advice the Commission and the Chief Electoral Commissioner/Returning Officer for the Presidential election”
“They have departed for Rivers State and it is expected that they will submit their report before the end of the collation of results of the states and the FCT; following the consideration of the report, the Commission will make its decision known”, the statement added.
It would be recalled that the INEC office in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State was razed by unknown thugs in the wake of protests that greeted elections there.
Also thousands of residents also took to the streets in protest against the violence that marred the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state on Saturday.
A soldier and scores of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were killed with many others injured.
An APC agent and former lawmaker was also arrested apart from many others that were arrested hours before the commencement of the election.
The razed INEC office is located at Emohua, the Capital of the council.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi had refused to be accredited or even take part in the election because the INEC refused to present the authentic result sheet for the election.
Many of the protesters accused the security operatives in the state and the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state of conniving to throw the state into chaos.
As they marched along, they warned those brewing violence in the state to be reminded that the state could be thrown into turmoil.