Declare me Rivers Gov-elect, AAC candidate Awara tells INEC | Nairalaw

The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress in
Rivers State, Biokpomabo Awara, has called on the Independent
National Electoral Commission to declare him the governor-elect of
last Saturday poll.

Biokpomabo, who made this call on Monday when he spoke with
newsmen in Port Harcourt, demanded the redeployment of the State
Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Effanga, for alleged
incompetence.

He alleged that Effanga appointed card-carrying members of the
Peoples Democratic Party as INEC ad hoc employees.

The AAC candidate maintained that, based on the figures made
available to him by his party agents from seven local government
areas, he was ahead of the governorship candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party, Nyesom Wike.

He alleged that INEC decided to suspend the electoral process
because the Commission was aware that he was coasting to
victory.

Biokpomabo pointed out that he rejected the reasons for
violence, seizure of election materials by hoodlums and insecurity
given by INEC for the suspension of the governorship election in
the state.

He said, “The results already declared at the aforesaid local
government collation centres should be accepted.

“INEC should declare me Awara Biokpomabo of the African Action
Congress the winner of the 09-03-2019 governorship election in the
state.

“The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Obo Effanga,
should be immediately redeployed for gross incompetence.

“The State REC has not been able to conclude any election in
Rivers State since he took over the office. The PHALGA Constituency
111 State Assembly election is a case in point.”

Continuing, Awara said, “Results had already been collated and
declared before INEC suspended the remaining stages of the
election, which I was in clear lead and was coasting to
victory.

“Some of the unit results announced at the polling units in the
local government areas where collations were not concluded clearly
before the suspension of the processes showed that I won over 15
local government areas.

“INEC pleaded insecurity, violence, seizure of electoral
materials by hoodlums, etc., as the reasons for suspending the
remaining stages of the election. I reject the reasons given by
INEC.

“This is because in the local government areas that were
affected, voting had been concluded, results declared at the
polling units and collation had begun before the abrupt suspension
of the process.

“The Commission does not have the power under our Electoral Act
to suspend elections that have already been concluded.”

Reacting, the State Commissioner for Information and
Communications, Emma Okah, said, “My reply is simple; Governor
Nyesom Wike does not need to touch any electoral material because,
in every unit and ward in Rivers State, even the blind can see him,
the deaf can hear the name Nyesom Wike.

“Also, they can see the party logo. Governor Wike’s victory is a
divine one that will defeat the combined efforts of AAC candidate
and his sponsors.”

However, Effanga stated that INEC had always followed in the
appointment of officers and added that each potential appointee was
told that they could not serve as electoral officers if they were
partisan.

VIDEO: Again NAF Destroys ISWAP Infrastructure in Borno
Lake Chad

Video Link: https://youtu.be/5nKUIlju8og^[1]

The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed
Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists’ vehicle
and some logistics infrastructure at Tumbun Sale and Tumbun Allura
on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State.

The operation was conducted on 8 March 2019 on the heels of
intelligence reports indicating the presence of ISWAP fighters
along with some vehicles and logistics support items well
camouflaged under the dense vegetation within the settlements.

Accordingly, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet, supported by
an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, was
dispatched to attack the terrorists’ hideouts in successive strikes
resulting in damage to several structures as well as the
destruction of one of the terrorists’ vehicles, which was seen
engulfed in flames.

The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain
its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in
the Northeast.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force