The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, has described Wike’s allegation as baseless.
Yakubu said that there was no iota of truth in the governor’s allegation that the commission was colluding with the APC to rig the December 10 rerun election in the state.
Rather, he said the governor should allow the Police and other security agencies do a thorough investigation into the crime with the hope of bringing the perpetrators to book.
Yakubu, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the commission remained “a responsible organisation that takes its responsibilities very seriously.”
He said, “ Governor Wike’s allegations are baseless and unfortunate. INEC is a responsible organisation that takes its responsibilities very seriously.
“The commission could not have been aware of such a criminal act. I will advise the governor to stop throwing stones at INEC at the slightest opportunity.”
Oyekanmi insisted that the Police were well equipped to handle the case and that it was too early to reach a conclusion on the matter.
He said, “Well, we believe that the Nigeria Police have competent officers who will investigate this development and bring all the culprits to book.
“It is too early for anybody to draw conclusions. We should allow the Police to complete their investigation.
“INEC wants the case thoroughly investigated and the culprits and their sponsors prosecuted.”
Reacting, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, said the police as a security outfit had remained professional, adding that it was not possible to arrest suspects allegedly involved in the printing of election result sheets and charge them to court the same day.
“The police have always embraced professional standards in carrying out their duty. We have not colluded or think of colluding with INEC, any person or group of persons to rig election,” he added.
Reacting, the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, said the PDP had planned to plant electoral materials at the resident of the APC chieftains with a view to getting them arrested until after the rerun election.
He queried why one of the suspects would be taken to the Government House instead of a police station, adding that it was a “contrived thing.”
Finebone said, “The idea of the PDP is to plant election materials in some homes of individuals claiming they are the APC members so as to take some of our chieftains out of circulation before the rerun election. Emma Chinda they mentioned has not been in Port Harcourt for a very long time.
“Their target is to paint Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Dr. Dakuku Peterside black. For us, they should come forth and show us prove. Security agents should come up to tell us if the operation was genuine or not.”
When contacted, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, said he would not take issues with anybody, but would continue to do his job.
“I have always said that I am not taking issues with anybody. I am just here to do my work,” he stressed.
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Tags : Breaking news, Rivers Rerun
