The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday presented certificates of return to the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, and members-elect of the State House of Assembly.
Wike, who contested on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won the March 9 governorship election after polling 886,264 votes to beat his African Action Congress Alliance (AAC) opponent, Mr. Biokpomabo Awara who polled 173,859 votes.
Wike’s victory came after a tensed polling in the state which recorded cases of violence and electoral anomalies that sought to mar the election.
Presenting the documents to the governor, his deputy and the lawmakers, the chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, urged the people to change the narrative of violence associated with elections in the state.
The chairman who was represented by the national commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, expressed appreciation to the people of Rivers State for their contribution to the successful conduct of the 2019 general elections in the state.
Also speaking, the resident electoral commissioner (REC), Mr. Obo Effanga, said despite pressure and attacks INEC conducted credible elections in line with extant laws.
“For us in INEC, Rivers State, we stayed focused on conducting a transparent, free, fair and credible election. As I kept promising, on behalf of my team, we were bound by the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, other laws and guidelines for the elections. We were further bound by the pronouncements and decisions of courts.
“The present INEC by its conduct, helped to break away from the narrative of violence-tainted victories or elections and results that have limited input and participation of the voters. We can say and confidently too, that many voters in the state had access to polling units and indeed exercised their rights to vote in peace in this election than in previous elections,” he said.
Effanga said that if the momentum was sustained, Rivers State will no longer be a flashpoint of violence during elections.
In his remarks, Wike who dedicated his victory at the March 9 election in the state to the people of Rivers State as well as those allegedly killed by the Nigerian Army in defence of their votes and democracy, stated that their sacrifices would never be forgotten.
“Today, I dedicate this victory to the people of Rivers State. I also dedicate this victory to those killed by the Nigerian Army in defence of votes and democracy. But for their sacrifice, we would not be here,” he said.
The governor who denounced the ignoble role played by the army during election in the state declared: “The duty of the Army is not to take over INEC office and carry out Collation. We saw the Army take over INEC functions and that of the police. Go to Bori camp, you will see INEC materials. Is it where it is supposed to be? But for God, we wouldn’t have been here. All powers came, but God intervened and that’s why we are here.”
He, however, urged INEC to take steps to investigate why Rivers State was violent during elections.
He also advised the commission to work towards the prosecution of the F-SARs commander indicted for violence during the rerun elections, adding that the same F-SARs Commander allegedly killed a chartered accountant who served as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) collation agent and must be brought to Justice.
He praised INEC for its steadfast commitment to the logical conclusion of elections in Rivers State, despite the pressure for them to do otherwise.
“I commend INEC for standing firm on the side of the truth. I commend INEC officials for being firm,” he said.
The governor also said as a matter of state policy, Rivers State assist families of victims of election violence, adding that should INEC and the army permit, the state government would also reach out to their staff affected by the violence.
