THE INDEPENDENT National Electoral
Commission, INEC, yesterday opened its
defence of the Rivers State Governorship
Election with a declaration that the
election was held in compliance with the
Electoral Act and the electoral guidelines.
INEC tendered relevant documents and
electoral materials to prove the peaceful
and legal conduct of the election with
the INEC Electoral Officer of Obio /
Akpor, Mr Ebikoro Tebekaemi testifying
to the smooth conduct of the election.
Tebekaemi stated that INEC used both
card readers and manual accreditation for
the April 11 governorship election in Obio
/Akpor local government area.
According to him, a total number of
304,745 voters were accredited using both
card readers and manual accreditation.
He said, of the number, card readers
accounted for 40,281 voters.
The Obio/Akpor Local Government
Area INEC Electoral Officer said that the
distribution of election materials and
actual voting took place under a peaceful
environment , ensured by the Police, the
Army and other security agencies.
He said that all through the election he
did not receive any reports of snatching of
election materials, clash between INEC staff
and thugs and the disruption of election.
Tebekaemi denied the allegation by
the Rivers State APC that INEC officials
colluded with the PDP and security agents
to engage in multiple thumb printing and
electoral malpractices.
He added that it was untrue that security
agents arrested a bus conveying electoral
materials and INEC staff to an unauthorised
destination.
He said no such report was brought to his
notice.
The INEC Obio / Akpor Local Government
Area Electoral Officer said that enough
election materials were distributed to all the
wards of the LGA on April 11.
He further informed that out of the 17
wards in Obio/Akpor local government
area, governorship election held
successfully in 15 wards. He said the two
wards where election did not hold were:
Wards 12 and 13.
He was led in evidence by counsel to
INEC, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN , and was
cross examined by counsel to Governor
Nyesom Wike, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN .
Under cross examination by Chief Akin
Olujimi, SAN, Tebekaemi maintained that
at no time did INEC meet to decide that
only card readers be used for governorship
election. He said he was not aware of any
press release stopping manual accreditation
as it was never communicated to him
officially.
INEC has 6 days to present her case.
The matter was adjourned to today for
further defence by the Electoral Body
http://nigerianpilot.com/rivers-guber-poll-free-fair-inec/

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Wike case will be worst than saraki own.. watchout for part two!