Five political parties in Rivers State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; to strictly comply with the stipulations of the electoral Act during the Governorship and State Assembly elections on March 18 election.
The parties while briefing newsmen at a joint press conference in Port Harcourt alleged plot by top officials of INEC and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; to rig the election.
In their separate submissions, Governorship Candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Tonye Cole, National Rescue Movement, Sobomabo Jackrich; Action Alliance, Dr. Dawari George; Accord, Dumo Lulu-Briggs and African Democratic Congress,Tonte Ibraye, claimed that the Rivers State Governor want to use the instrumentality of the 23 Local Government Area Council Secretariats serving as Local Government Areas Collation Centres by the INEC to rig and manipulate the results of the March 18, 2023 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in the State.
Pastor Tonye Cole of the APC however alleged that there was an instruction to the council chairmen to ensure agents representing their parties’ interests do not have access to the collation centres.
Cole called on INEC and relevant authorities to stop all Government officials from accessing the collation centres.
He also urged INEC to act in accordance with Section 43(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which prohibits government officials from acting or serving as agents to political parties at elections.
”Only persons who are party agents according to law and designated INEC officials should have access to the collation centres at the Ward, LGA and State levels only party agents be allowed access to the collation centers.”
According to him, INEC should ensure that all registered voters are allowed to exercise their civic duties without intimidation.
