Rivers rerun: Despite heavy security bombing, snatching of ballot boxes unavoided
Despite the heavy presence of the combined forces of the police, army, navy, air force, and other security operatives, to provide security for the Rivers rescheduled rerun, electoral malpractices and irregularities still took the centre stage in some parts of the polling units.
Although the votings went on smoothly in some parts of Gokana Local Government Area in Ogoni where accreditation and voting started as early as 9.30am, the office of the Independent National Election Commission, INEC, office in Bera, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State was reportedly bombed by suspected party loyalists.
As at the time of this report it was not clear whether any life was lost in the incident, but the Deputy Inspector-General, DIG, of Police, Mr. Joshua Habila, told journalists that the police had already mobilized to curtail the violence.
There was no voting at 14 units in Akoko-Toru Local Government Area as at 12.30 pm. About 600 security personnel comprising the Police, army, Navy and NSCDC prevented what could have resulted into a bloody clash following serious disagreement that ensued between members of the PDP and APC over the non-availability of some sensitive electoral materials such as result sheets.
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At Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area and Degema, sporadic shootings were reported in the around 2.00pm. It was reported that some hoodlums in some units in Gokana snatched ballot materials at about 1.25 pm. Ballot boxes and material were also snatched at Unit 3, Ward 9, in Bolo, in Ogu/Bolo local Government Area.
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One of the contestants in the election for the Rivers East Senatorial District, which includes Ogu/Bolo, Senator George Sekibo, told journalists at Ogu, that “armed security men in uniform aided some youths to snatch ballot materials at Unit 3, Ward 9, in Ogu.”
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He said: “It is good that INEC has reacted promptly and cancelled the election in that unit. That act of courage will discourage further acts of ballot snatching. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should give confidence to the electoral process by doing what is right and proper without pandering to the whims and caprices of any party.”
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The Rivers State House of Assembly Chief Whip, Hon. Evans Bipi, accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of trying to count the votes from Units 7 and 8, Ward 4, at the local government headquarters, rather than at the units were the election took place.
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Hon. Bipi stated: “We had to argue with the INEC officials insisting that the votes must be counted at the units were the elections took place. After much haggling they agreed that the votes will be counted at the polling units. We have also been informed that there are plans by the APC to snatch result sheets after the counting have been completed. We are watching. We have noticed some strange movements but we are ready to protect our votes.”
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Also at Ogu, the INEC supervisor in-charge of both units, told journalists that the votes would be counted at units 7 and 8, before they would be taken to the ward from then to the local government headquarters for collation.
At Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Council, the home town of the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, there were no result sheets at units 14, 15, and 16. The former governor expressed displeasure at the missing result sheets.
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However in some areas accreditation and voting were not hindered. Accreditation and voting in Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) Local Government Area, started at 9 am. The community was peaceful and there was no incident of snatching of electoral materials.
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Voting in Aluebo Town Hall in Eleme also went on peacefully contrary to expectations. There, accreditation and voting started about 10am.
