Contrary to the allegations going round the state that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, has received N4.7 billion for all the political parties to share N20 million each, the commission says it has received N550 million only for all the political parties who participated in the election and has disbursed it based on their performances.
It would be recalled that few weeks ago, after the just concluded Degema September 2011 local government election, some political party leaders under the aegis of Association of Frontline Political Parties, addressed the press and made allegations against RSIEC.
Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, the chairman of the Rivers state independent electoral commission, professor Nemi Briggs who noted that despite the national assembly abrogation of subventions to political parties in line with the amendment of the 1999 constitution, the Rivers state government has been giving financial support to political parties to enable them participate in the elections.
According to him, for the 2011 local government elections, the commission applied for and theRiversStategovernment approved and released the some of N550m only, as a grant to political parties participating in the elections. Sixty political parties expressed interest to participate in the May 21, 2011 council elections while 61 political parties expressed interest in September 17, 2011, Degema elections, adding that these political parties participated in the elections in one form or the other.
Professor Briggs hinted that the disbursement of the funds was on the basis of a fixed standard across the board rate and pro rate basis. The across the board rate was paid either for or upon performance of milestones, the milestones being establishment of an office in either Phalga or Obalga, conduct of primaries of political parties in accordance with their constitution bye laws and regulations, submission of names, presentation of candidates for verification and eligibility of candidate for elections, adding that the success of the candidates at the verification was based essentially on the criteria.
Professor Nimi Briggs who was represented by Barrister Nimi Wilson Jack, the commissioner in charge of Public Education in the commission, disclosed that in the administration of the grants, the commission was confronted with many challenges.
According to her, some political parties received the grant and did not hold primaries, some political parties received the grants, held primaries, but did not purchase nomination forms, some held primaries, purchased nomination forms, but did not return them, some held primaries, purchased form, returned the completed forms and presented candidates for verification.
In some instances even though the forms were returned, no candidate appeared for screening.
Among the candidates presented by the political parties, some were qualified while others were rejected and the reason for the rejection where communicated for necessary action.
He however pointed out that political parties that purchased forms for their candidates that emerged from their respective primaries, submitted same, presented these candidates for versification exercises and were entitled to the sum of N1.5m, less earlier amount paid to them on the basis of pro rata, adding that political parties which have not been paid any amount but quality as stated would be paid the total amount of N1.5m, while any political party which bought forms but failed to submit same but presented candidates for screening, were not entitled to any further payment beyond the N500,000.00 earlier paid across board. ####
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
