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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday said more than 25 of its staff members were receiving medical attention as a result of attacks suffered during Saturday’s supplementary election in Etche local government area of Rivers state.

In an interview with NAN in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Aniedi Ikoiwak, resident electoral commissioner (REC) blamed the attacks on the people of Rivers.

He said one of the victims just regained consciousness on Sunday.

“This is one area that Nigerians should ask questions: over 25 INEC staff members are in hospital today because the people of Rivers state decided to either kill or wound them,” he said.

“They were all beaten up because they went to those villages to conduct an election.

“Let the people of Rivers state tell us the offence any of them committed. What did they do? They were bringing materials for the election; they decided to descend on them, beat them up, collect their personal belongings and run away.”

Ikoiwak noted that the victims were on official duty and needed a peaceful environment to achieve success.
He called on Nigerians to condemn the alleged attack.

“It is very sad. None of them was beaten up in his home but where they went to conduct an election,” he said.

“Why shouldn’t Nigerians discuss that? Why should people sent to conduct an election be beaten up and their belongings taken away from them?”

But Nyesom Wike, governor of the state, has described the election as one of the most peaceful in the history of the state.

Speaking at a church service in Port Harcourt, Wike commended security operatives for the role they played in the exercise.

“For the first time, I want to commend the security operatives in the state. If they have been doing this way, we wouldn’t have been having problems in this state,” he said.

“This is the first election I have seen in my life, since this government came, that you don’t see too much involvement of security operatives and that is why nobody has died, that’s why the election went on peacefully.

“I told the opposition party, because security is not interfering, that’s why you can’t get one seat. If they were carrying [electoral] materials as they used to do before, they would have allocated some seats.

“So, I want to commend them.”
About 700 staff members of INEC were mobilised for the supplementary legislative election in Etche.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had withdrawn from assisting INEC in the election due to security issues.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious in the exercise.

https://www.thecable.ng/25-inec-officials-hospital-rivers-rerun-attack

Wish them speedy recovery.

hian!

Wetin we no go hear for this country.

APC no happy

This wouldn't have happened if APC had listened to the voice of reasoning and left rivers state alone

Na wa o

Personal opinion...all dis rerun no der help matters

Two words :wicked wike

Village people can't conduct an election without violence Uncivilized people

Those guyz try na, Hadn't been they killed them by now dem go dey face heavenly tribunal. A sensible Nigerian won't participate in any election come up in Rivers state base on what happened at the last rerun election but the love of money go send many to early grave.

Everyday them they do election for Rivers. Why kind state be that?!

Dis My Country Nigeria ehhh Kaiiii Bloody Elections since Apc Buhari govt enter aso rock

river dey do election you dey show face i pity ur life

When will good news come out of Rivers? Na wao

the home of violent politics......rivers state

Seen

Pinshure or Adonbilvit

Naija and political drama...

NAIJA DON TIRE ME SEF

I hope that noisy rivers PDP spokesman Samuel Wanosike is still in detention. I saw him sitting humbly on the ground yesterday. He likes to think of himself as the toughest man in Nigeria.

The only thing that gladdens my heart is nysc withdrew corps member

Well after the attack and rerun in Rivers state Nigeria well the election will be coming soon.

I feared Nigeria Police when they swept under the carpet the murders of some of their own to investigate Wike's phone call. Those who murdered those officers were responsible for this.

When Wicked Wike cannot be trusted, when he says the election us peaceful he meant the opposite

maberry:
This wouldn't have happened if APC had listened to the voice of reasoning and left rivers state alone

So APC doesn't have the right to contest for elections in Rivers State?

hie! dis re-run don too much , and na blood dey, dey take end am I know say dey no fit ever do successful election for river sta
te kbam.

Wicked wike

Those beaten what happened to their security? Does not add up. You send them out without security? No fair and not right.

Rivers election and violence na 5 and 6