The All Progressives Congress in Okrika Local Government Area has called for the cancellation of the 2023 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the LGA.
The chairman, APC, Okrika LGA, Elder, Lazarus Damabara in a statement, said the call became expedient following the singular reason that the electoral process was abused and several acts of election fraud and malpractices were perpetrated against the All Progressives Congress, APC in the LGA.
The statement read; ”As you may all be aware, today is set for the General elections of Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
”As scheduled, we all filed out to exercise our franchise as people of Okrika and Rivers State.
”Mid way into the elections, cultists headed by the Local Government Council Chairman and PDP Chieftains invaded Wards 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the LGA.
”Useful voting materials, such as original copies of results and Ballot papers were carted away, including forcing the ad-hoc staff to an unknown destination to coerce them to forge results in favour of the PDP.
”Fortunately, the Army on patrol caught some of these Chieftains of PDP such as Chief Ibiba Walter, former Commissioner for Transport in Rivers State and present DG of Port Harcourt Water Resources, a former Council Chairman and presnt Legal Adviser of the Rivers State University, Bar. Tamuno Williams amongst others, and personnel of the Nigerian Police Force while entering an event centre known as Everest Event Centre owned by one Claribel Abam, situate at Abam Road, Okrika.
”It is therefore imperative for the INEC to be unbiased and cancel the election in Okrika Local Government Area for the singular reason that the electoral process was abused and several acts of election fraud and malpractices were perpetrated against the All Progressives Congress, APC in Okrika LGA.
”We call for the unequivocal cancellation of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections immediately and a new date slated for a proper election to be conducted in line with laid down electoral processes and procedures”.
