The coalition of INEC Accredited for the Rivers East Senatorial election has described the just concluded 5th January, 2012 Rivers East senatorial bye-election as peaceful, free, fair and credible.
It would be recalled that prior to the just concluded re-run Rivers East senatorial election conducted in the eight LGAs of Rivers State, the Independent Electoral Commission INEC had accredited over eight electoral observers to monitor.
They include, Nigeria Vote Count Campaigns, Democratic Watch dog, Women Educators of Nigeria, Celestine Osi Foundation, South South Ieaders and Elders Association of Nigeria, Niger Delta Global Peace Foundation, Nigeria League of Election Observers, among others.
In a press statement jointly signed by comrade Emmanuel Nkweke aka Mr. Vote Count, the co-ordinator of the electoral observers, Mrs. Sylvia Briggs, secretary and Chief, Sir Celestine O Tawo, the Public Relations Oficer, on behalf of the observers during the presentation of their report to INEC Resident Electoral Commission in Rivers State elder, Nnamdi Ikowak at the INEC office in Port Harcourt, declared that the Rivers senatorial election actually took place in the eight local government areas of Rivers State, including Ikwerre, Emohua, Obi/Akop, Okrika, Ogbu-Bolo, Etche, Omuma and Port Harcourt city LGAs, that the Rivers East senatorial District election was contested by 12 political parties Action Alliance Party, AA, ACN, APGA, APS, CPC, HDP, PL, NSDP, PAC, PDP, PPN and UNPP.
Obi/Akop, Okrika, Ogbu-Bolo, Etche, Omuma and Port Harcourt city LGAs, that the Rivers East senatorial District election was contested by 12 political parties Action Alliance Party, AA, ACN, APGA, APS, CPC, HDP, PL, NSDP, PAC, PDP, PPN and UNPP.
The said INEC dispatched all electoral materials in good time to respective wards and units within the eight local government areas, that the Adhoc staff deployed by INEC (NYSC) to function in various capacities, ed in the senatorial election were given equal opportunities for participation, electorate at various polling units cast their votes without intimidation and inducement, that the security operatives were on ground to protect electoral materials, the usual police and military embarrassment on votes were not recorded, that election started peacefully and orderly as various results were collected and announced at each polling units. political parties involved in the senatorial election were given equal opportunities for participation, electorate at various polling units cast their votes without intimidation and inducement, that the security operatives were on ground to protect electoral materials, the usual police and military embarrassment on votes were not recorded, that election started peacefully and orderly as various results were collected and announced at each polling units.
The observers affirmed that the winner of on, Dr. Otu Ekpeyong of Uniport by 3am Friday 6th January 2012 is the true mandate of the people. the election was senator George Thomason Sekibo of the Peoples Democratic Party, that the result of the election was announced by the chief returning officer of the Rivers East Senatorial election, Dr. Otu Ekpeyong of Uniport by 3am Friday 6th January 2012 is the true mandate of the people.
The observers further stateted that the election witnessed an average turn out of voters occasioned by the xmas, new year celebration and increase in fuel price witnessed programmes need to be intensified for subsequent elections.
During the election period, recommending that vote sensitization programmes need to be intensified for subsequent elections.
Meanwhile the result of the election announced by Dr. Otu Ekpeyong in the presence of other INEC officials proved that senator George Thompson Sekibo of PDP of emerged winner with 472, 224 votes, Engineer Lasbry Amadi of A C N, 2nd with 18, 109 votes Leslie chizi Michaels Atata AA 14, 371 votes 3rd, Mary Nyeche APS party1,249, Mr. Chigozie Orlu APGA 138 Japhet Nkecho Ikeziam, CPC, 413 votes, Nwogu Samuel Onyenam HDP 224, Anyie Innocent Bori LP 179, Chinwe Deborah Egwu, NSDP 134, Okere N. Nnamdi, PPN 213, Dan Izoma UNPP 141. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
