Rivers rerun: APC, INEC under attack

– PDP berates INEC over conduct of Rivers rerun

– PDP says it is disappointing that INEC, under the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed disappointment with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of the March 19 National and state Assembly rerun elections in Rivers state.

In a statement by Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP national publicity secretary, the party said it is disappointing that INEC, under the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has not been able to conduct any conclusive election in few constituencies and states so far and wondered what would be the case when the entire country is involved.

READ ALSO: PDP accuses APC of destroying Yobe

He said: “The conduct of the INEC in Saturday’s National and state Assembly rerun elections in Rivers state falls short of the expected standard, given the level of mobilization and preparedness.

 “Also grossly unacceptable is the shoddy work by security operatives leading to escalation of violence, avoidable deaths and eventual cancellation of election results in 8 local government areas in the state.”

According to the party, the nation and the international community should hold INEC, security operatives and the APC responsible should there be a breakdown of law and order in the state over the non-release of the final results.

READ ALSO: Wike accuses APC of using federal might in Rivers rerun

The PDP noted that the only reason for the seizure of the results is the fact that the PDP candidates were in clear and overwhelming victory in all the reruns.

Metuh said: “Nigerians and the international community can now see the desperation of the APC, which has now arm-twisted INEC in the unholy bid to alter the results of the elections and subvert the will of the people.

“We want the APC and INEC to mark the salient fact that the PDP, the people of Rivers state and indeed all Nigerians are already aware of the results from respective polling centres, wards and local government areas and will in no way whatsoever accept any final result that does not tally with the actual and already established figures from the polling units.

“We wish to remind the APC and INEC that Rivers state is a known stronghold of the PDP and the results from the elections cannot show otherwise. INEC should therefore understand that Nigerians are aware that in withholding the final results, they are ostensibly preparing grounds for chaos in the state.

“While we invite all to note the avoidable growing tension occasioned by the desperation of the APC to steal the mandate of the people, we caution INEC to extricate itself from the evil web and immediately release all the final results of the ballot as cast by the people and nothing more.”

Meanwhile, Ben Murray-Bruce, a Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency in the red chamber, has joined Nigerians to berate the INEC over the conduct of Saturday’s rerun election in Rivers state.

The post Rivers rerun: APC, INEC under attack appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.