As the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) advances to the final stage of preparations to conduct the long awaited bye elections in designated wards in the State and general elections in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area(ONELGA), the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Rivers State Chapter says it doubts the credibility of the current Commission in organizing a free and fair election in the state.
The ACN made its feelings known in a press statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam in Port Harcourt and made available to The Newswriter accusing all the RSIEC members of being card carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The ACN spokesman, likened the present electoral body to appointing a man to be a judge in his own case which will not produce the required result.
According to the party, the only way to win the confidence of other participating parties in the election and guarantee a free and fair exercise is to appoint respectable Rivers People who are not partisan for the job.
“But rather than do that, the State government carefully chose those whose loyalty to them is not in question”, the ACN alleged.
Jerry Needam said the party has evidence to prove that those given the mandate to conduct the bye and general elections have political affiliations with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
It described the ongoing preparations as a charade and meant to deceive the unsuspecting Rivers people and eligible voters.
“Even in their routine and official assignment and recruitment of ad-hoc staff for the elections, the RSIEC is acting on party lines as though it is a political party, regarding certain persons and applicants as opposition persons and candidates or related to non-PDP members. This is uncivilized, undemocratic and regrettable”, the ACN declared.
The ACN said it is therefore calling on the Rivers State government to dissolve the current Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, in view of the above fact.###
Barth Ndu
