PDP, APC reject Rivers Senatorial results
The two major political parties in contention for senatorial seats in the re-run elections in Rivers State, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressive Congress, APC, have rejected the results of the polls released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
While the PDP rejected the results as announced by the presiding officers of INEC, declaring APC candidates Magnus Abe, Barry Mpigi, Friday Nke-Ee, Innocent Barikor and others winners of their respective offices in Rivers South East Senatorial District, the APC turned its back on the result of the Rivers East Senatorial District.
Dr Dakuku Peterside, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said on Monday, shortly after the results were announced by INEC, that APC would reject the result of Rivers East Senatorial District rerun election.
Peterside told a news conference in Port Harcourt that the collation of the district’s election results was marred with irregularities. He stated that information available to the party showed that results of some local government areas in the district had not been collated.
Peterside, who is the Deputy Leader of APC in the state, also alleged that due process was not followed in announcing the results. He added: “You are aware that elections were inconclusive in Etche Local Government Area; the results for Emohua Local Government Area have not been collated, the results for Port Harcourt City Local Government Area were partially collated.
“The APC agent was beaten at the collation centre in Port Harcourt. Without him being present, the result was announced in favour of the PDP candidate.
“Whatever result is declared for Rivers East will be ridiculing democracy; APC will not accept any of that,” he said, adding that the party would use constitutional means to resist the alleged irregularities.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chairman of the PDP, Bro. Felix Obuah, said its rejection of the results stems from the fact that election never took place in the whole of the Rivers South East District.
He challenged the APC, INEC, Army, Police or other security agencies to show proof that there was election in the zone.
