The Peoples Advocates in collaboration with CSO I-Report Platform, CIEPD Election Situation Room, Network of Police Reform and Transistion Monitoring Group have expressed dissatisfaction over missing electoral materials used during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers state.
Coordinator of the Group, Courage Nsirimovu ESQ, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt and made available to media houses, on Sunday.
He said that the group keenly monitored the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Rivers State, Nigeria, and observed late arrival of electoral materials, especially in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State Nigeria, parts of Phalga and other LGA’s witnessed the same issue.
“INEC Materials arrived in Woji ward 6 unit 001 at about 5 pm and voting lasted beyond 9p.m. a voter in the unit claims that the unit has about 6,000 voters and most of them were disenfranchised because of late Arrival of materials. Parts of Rumuomasi close to SHELL I.A, Mopol 19 (Mummy B road Oromenike/Ezimgbu R.A 01, P.U 19, Open Space) witnessed late evening/night voting”.
“Our inquiry into the late arrival of election materials from the Electoral Officer in charge of Obio/Akpor revealed absence of security personnel (Police) to escort the ad–hoc staff to their various polling units and delay in sorting out the materials.
The Coordinator added that as the election progressed the group received reports of missing/omitted/unavailability of Form E 8 in Polling Units in Phalga ward 4 amongst 28 other polling Units.
“The missing form E.8 was basically the Presidential Result Sheet. Some polling Units also reported missing Presidential ballot papers and couldn’t vote for the president of their choice.
“Desperate Voters flagged our patrol vehicle down in Rumueme/Rumeupirikon axis at ward 9 units 16 and 45 and informed us that the INEC ad–hoc Staff and Police Officers forcefully zoomed off with the election materials after voting without declaring the results against the will of the voters and in defiance of the electoral guideline/Act”, he disclosed.
He called on INEC and the Police to investigate every ward and polling units where results were not declared and form E.8 missing in view of prosecuting the electoral offenders and review/cancellation of such polling units.
He warned that the act of desperate politicians who intend to bypass the BIVAS by stealing and filling the form E.8 is very dangerous to the credibility of our electoral system.
“TPA is at a loss at how these politicians got access to the form E.8 without the aid of INEC officials”, he wondered.
Furthermore, he said that the group witnessed some polling units without police security and INEC supervisor including Ward 10 Unit 74.
“On matters of dereliction of duty, such officers should be penalized”, he advised.
He noted that the group also received report of BIVAS snatching in Ogbakiri Ward 1 Unit 17, Emuoha L.GA.
“TPA received report of voter oppression by some thugs loyal to PDP who were forcing voters in ONELGA ward 7 to vote for the Governors presidential candidate, and the APC at Tony Okocha’s Unit in Ward 11, Rumuigbo where voters who wanted to vote for Peter Obi were driven out of the compound.
“TPA also received reports of the killing of three persons at Ubimini Ward 12 in Emohua L.G.A and pockets of violence in few places.
“It is the view of TPA that the election was quite peaceful because of scarcity of money for vote-buying and payment of thugs to carry out violent attacks.
“Incidents of vote buying and selling were barely heard as it were before this election.
“Generally, TPA commends the Police situation room for early response and interventions.
“TPA also commends CIEPD, RIVERS STATE CIVIL SOCIETY COALITION, TMG AND NOPRIN for their collaboration and efforts at ensuring a free and fair elections.
“TPA is not very eager to commend INEC because of the issues of missing form E.8, Late Arrival of Materials and poor response to calls for immediate interventions.
“TPA calls on the AIG YARO ABUTU and his four Commissioners of Police to investigate the issues of the missing form E.8 in over 28 polling Units and Ward 4 (Phalga), missing presidential ballot papers, killing of the lady at Ubimini, Emuoha and other allied crimes and Electoral Offences, in-order to send a signal to politicians, conniving INEC Officials and erring police officers that it is not business as usual.
“TPA also calls on DR. JOHNSON, THE INEC RESIDENT ELECTORAL OFFICER in Rivers State to explain to Rivers People why materials arrived late and why Form E.8 were missing at the polls and what will be done to Electoral Officers who did not declare results at the polling units and what would be the fate of such polling units.
“Finally, TPA commends the people of Rivers State for coming out in a new spirit of self determination to vote and defend their votes showing that truly, sovereignty belongs to the people.
“We all must stand up to defend the civic space and our democracy by every legal means possible”, he stated.
