The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday praised the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the prompt
distribution of electoral materials across the state in the
yesterday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
Wike, who spoke shortly after casting his votes at his ward 9,
unit 7 Obio/Akpor Local Governmnet Area of the state, however
blamed the military for the challenges recorded in parts of the
state.
Wike was accompanied to the voting ground by his wife, Eberechi
Suzzette Wike, a judge of the State High Court, to cast his votes
at about few minutes to 12 noon yesterday.
He expressed satisfaction in the large turnout of voters. He
stated that Nigerians are ready to exercise their franchise.
Speaking to newsmen he said, “From what I have seen here, it is
a large turnout and Nigerians are ready to express their franchise.
Apart from the military intervention, things are moving on
smoothly.
“There is a clear improvement by INEC in the conduct of this
year’s election. They have shown preparedness in the discharge of
their electoral duties during the voting process, and I sincerely
commend them for that.”
He, however, regretted the activities of the Nigerian Military
in the exercise, accusing them of deliberate efforts to frustrate
the success of democratic process across the state.
“It is unfortunate that our military can descend so low. We use
to complain about the Police, but now it is the military.
“What Nigerians have wished to be will be, it doesn’t matter the
manipulation anybody would want to carry out, I am very hopeful
that Nigerians will decide today and a new President will emerge”,
he said.
Generally, the elections were peaceful in parts of the state,
especially, Port-Harcourt the state capital and its environs,
though there were some skirmishes in some LGAs, of Bonny, Okrika,
Abonnema in Akukutoru, and Andoni and arrests have been made in
these places, the state police command told newsmen.
Speaking through its spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, Deputy
Superintendent of Police (DSP), noted that the police was very
prepared for the exercise, with over 15,000 officers and men
deployed to the 4,442 polling unites across the state.
Electoral materials arrived most of the polling centres early
enough, resulting in accreditation and voting in most areas as
early as 9 am.
At Saint Andrew Anglican Church, Mile one Diobu, RACK centre for
the entire Diobu axis, electoral materials began to leave the
centre as early as 7:30 am, by 9: 30, all materials had completely
been moved from the place with voting already commenced in some
places.
There was large turnout of voters in the state with good number
of them seen trekking several miles away to get to their voting
centres.
A voter simply identified as Ayozie, aged about 60, and was seen
at second artillery along Aba/Port-Harcourt expressway going from
Obigbo to Diobu to ensure he cast his vote.
Interacting with him, he said, “I am coming from Obigbo in
Obigbo LGA and I am going to Diobi to cast my vote to my preferred
candidate.”
Also at one of the polling units visited in Wimpey area, an
average age woman told the story of how she trekked from Rukpokwu
axis to her polling unit at the Wimpy area.