Army faults INEC position on Rivers State guber elections | Nairalaw

The Nigerian Army on Monday faulted the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, over the position it adopted regarding
the governorship election in Rivers State.

It maintained that the INEC failed to look at the circumstances
surrounding its intervention during the conduct of the exercise and
more so when it made a presentation to the INEC fact-finding
committee during its visit to the State.

In a statement issued by the Deputy Director Army Public
Relations in Charge of 6 Division, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, the Army
accused the Festus Okoye committee of lack of sincerity in its
final report.

Colonel Iliyasu said: “Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian Army
(NA) have observed with dismay and sense of betrayal in the
statement made by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman Information
and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye Esq on 15 March
2019.

“The statement according to INEC was the findings of its
Fact-Finding Committee that assessed the situation in Rivers
State.

“It is, however, pertinent to note that, representatives of the
6 Division met with the Fact-Finding Committee on Tuesday 12 March
2019 at the INEC Headquarters in Port Harcourt and had honest
discussions and made a written submission to aid the Committee in
its task.

” Regrettably, none of the Division’s input form any of the
findings of INEC as made public. This clearly indicates lack of
trust by an institution that the NA sacrifices so much to assist in
the course of performing their role.

“Genesis of the suspension of Governorship/State House of
Assembly elections process in Rivers State

“What INEC failed to mention or even consider is the fact that
at about 10:30 pm on Saturday 9th March 2019, troops of 6 Division
NA detailed at the outer perimeter of Obio/Akpor Local Government
Headquarters Collation Center were brazenly attacked by Governor
Wike’s security aides and armed thugs who stormed the collation
center with the Governor in a convoy of more than 50 vehicles while
collation of results was going on. In the ensuing melee, Captain
Adams Salami was shot at close range by the security aides of
Governor Wike while Corporal Adeosun Adebayo was matcheted by
Governor Wike’s thugs.

“Both victims are currently receiving treatment at University of
Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Intensive Care Unit and
Military Hospital Port Harcourt respectively with life-threatening
injuries.

“Thereafter, election materials were carted away and electoral
officials abducted by the Governor’s thugs to an unknown
destination. This was made known to the INEC Fact-Finding Committee
but INEC does not see it worth condemning or mention in its
report.

“Consequently, after due consultations and considerations
between 6 Division and the Rivers State Police Command on Sunday
the 10th of March 2019, the Rivers State Police Command, on their
own, – took the initiative to invite the media to the hospitals
where the 2 victims are receiving treatment and thereafter to host
a press conference on the matter with the view to dissociate itself
from the unprofessional conduct exhibited by their men attached to
Wike and tell the public what disciplinary action the command will
take or is already taking.

” However, while the visit to the victims was accomplished and
the 2 victims interviewed by the media, the press conference was
aborted by the Police after journalists have been assembled.

“Coincidentally, a rescheduled press conference on the matter
was also aborted on Thursday the 14th of March 2019. Most
disheartening is that while the Rivers State Police Command accepts
the involvement of their personnel in the attack at Obio/Akpor LG
Headquarters, till date those personnel have not at least been
reprimanded.

“To this end, – in the circumstance, – the 6 Division NA as a
stakeholder in the 2019 General Elections takes exception to the
lopsided and therefore unfair INEC report and is hereby strongly
and totally rejected by the NA.

“The Division is equally disappointed with the attitude
exhibited by the Nigerian Police in this regard and hereby request
the police leadership to commence full scale investigation of those
security aides to Governor Wike that attacked troops at the
Obio/Akpor LG Headquarters Collation Center and shot at Capt AA
Salami with a view to appropriately sanction those found
responsible/culpable. Until that is done, Headquarters 6 Division
NA will have to review all existing joint activities with the
Rivers State Police Command.”

Atiku of PDP Finally File Petition against Buhari, APC
Victory

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
in the February 23 rescheduled presidential election, Atiku
Abubakar has finally filed his petition against the victory of
President Muhammadu Buhari at the poll.

Atiku and his party are challenging the election of Buhari and
the his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the grounds
of alleged massive riggings, malpractices and non compliance
substantially with the electoral laws.

In the petition filed on Monday, Atiku and the PDP are praying
that they be declared winner of the February 23 presidential
election.

In the alternative, the two petitioners prayed the Presidential
Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to nullify the poll and ordered
for a fresh election that will be conducted in lines with
provisions of the electoral laws.

The National Legal Adviser of the PDP Emmanuel Enoidem,
confirmed to journalists at the Court of Appeal, venue of the PEPT
that the petition has been filled.

Enoidem said that the PDP and its presidential candidate have
already assembled a powerful legal team, comprising 20 Senior
Advocate of Nigeria SANs and other retinue of lawyers who will
establish the fact of the petition.

He disclosed that over 400 witnesses have been assembled to
testify during the hearing of the petition.

On the order earlier granted to Atiku to inspect materials, he
said that the inspection is being carried out from the polling
units across the country.

By PRNigeria