The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Dame Gesila Khan of collaborating with members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP of frustrating their efforts to get electoral materials that would aid them file petitions in the electoral petition tribunal sitting in Abuja.
In a chat with journalists at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt, the chairman of APC in Rivers State, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya who expressed dismay over the ugly scenario perpetrated by Dame Gesila Khan said the REC in Rivers State in collaboration with PDP plot to stop them from getting the required documents for the tribunal disclosed that the party has applied to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Dame Khan in line with the Freedom of Information Act and the requirement of the law to release guidelines use in the conduct of the 2015 general elections, the results sheets, the ward LGAs results sheets in each of the units, members of the adhoc staffs among others, pointing out that out of 17 electoral materials requested by the APC from the INEC only one was given to them.
According to the APC lawyer, Barrister Achineke William Wobodo who went to get the electoral materials documents from the INEC in Rivers State as was requested by INEC to get the document was beating by thugs suspected to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State.
According to him, in attempt to get the document on Monday 27th April 2015, Mr. Gboko Ikon, one of the INEC officials in Rivers State made a phone call and invited someone who lead a full load of truck containing thugs invaded the INEC office in Rivers State.
Dr. Ikanya who recalled that no elections in Rivers State as it was a sham noted that PDP and INEC in Rivers State are collaborating to frustrate them from getting the document to prevent them restore their stolen mandate from the PDP in the State, pointing out that hiding the documents from the APC proves that their was no elections rather it is only allocation of results to parties.
In his contribution, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State who associated himself with the statement made by the APC party chairman in Rivers State noted that the inability of INEC in Rivers State to provide them the required material is deliberate attempt to foil their petition.
Dr. Peterside noted that there is need to get the documents as quick as possible because of time frame and urged INEC to release the documents to the party.
Commenting on why the party needed the documents urgently, Dr. Ikanya said it was as a result of time frame to file the petition stressing that the PDP and INEC in Rivers State were bent on frustrating the party from getting the documents so that the party will go to court.
Meanwhile, those who spoke with journalists in Port Harcourt, Barrister Chizi from Emohua, Mr. Chilary from Ogbakiri wondered why INEC in Rivers State should not give the party the required documents, stressing that they are public documents that need to be given to any of the parties.
They noted that the INEC collaboration to frustrate the APC from getting the document proved that the 2015 general elections in Rivers State was actually rigged in favour of PDP and urged the tribunal to ensure that they nullify the elections.
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
