Coalition of Accredited INEC Observers has in lined with the foreign observers admitted violence and irregularities in the just concluded 2015 general elections in Rivers State.
It would be recalled that during the 2015 Presidential/National Assembly, Governorship/State Assembly elections a team of Coalition of Accredited INEC Observers have went round the 23 LGAs of Rivers State to observe the elections.
In a press conference shortly after the general election at the Federal Secretariat Complex Port Harcourt, Comrade Emmanuel Nkweke aka “Mr. Vote Count” the head of observers mission noted that although there were irregularities and some pockets of violence in the just concluded elections in Rivers State such as hijacks of electoral boxes, thumb printing of electoral materials and other forms of manipulations in the elections but such was not enough grounds to call for cancellation of the results as the foreign observers and some politicians have advocated.
Comrade Nkweke further stressed that the irregularities identified in the President/National Assembly elections in March 28, 2015 such as late arrival of materials, non posting of police or security agents in some polling units, among others were improved in the April 11th Governorship/State Assembly elections.
Comrade Nkweke who debunked insinuation making rounds the state that there were no elections in Rivers State noted that elections were properly conducted in Rivers State.
According to him, our team of observers who went round the 23 LGA of the state to observe the election confirmed that prior to the elections Rivers State has 4442 polling units 319 wards in the 23 LGAs of Rivers State, pointing out that the March 28 Presidential/National Assembly and Governorship/State Assembly elections were keenly contested and various political parties campaigned across the 23 LGAs of Rivers State.
On the elections day accreditations and voting took place in the polling units of the wards in the LGAs and result were announced.
He commended Ateke Tom, the former warlord and leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Group for conducting his boys peacefully in the elections as well as commended Dame Gesila Khan, REC in Rivers State for her maturity in conducting the general elections pointing out that the election was a success.
Comrade Nkweke who noted that the card reader could not guarantee the expectations of the elections, recommended that Prof. Attahiru Jega, the INEC chairman should improve on the card reader in the subsequent elections “he should correct any unnecessary corrections by testing it before it will carry on for the exercise.
He further recommended that the INEC should improve on the mistake done in the general elections so as to ensure that there is enough election materials in the subsequence lections among others.
The team of Coalition Accredited Electoral Observers who were present include: Nigerian Vote Count, Campaigner, Environmental Monitoring International Observers, UN Women Observers, Centre For Credible Leadership and Citizens Ownership, African Network Elections Observers among others. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
