Re-run poll: INEC, police read riot act to parties, supporters in Rivers

Ahead of Saturday’s Rivers state rerun elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the state police command have jointly warned that both agencies would not spare electoral offenders. The two bodies rose from some stockholders meeting in Port Harcourt, Wednesday, with a vow to prosecute those who would deliberately flout the electoral laws during the December 10, legislative re-run election.

The chairman of INEC, Mr. Mahmood Yakubu, in a keynote address during a one-day Stakeholders Interactive Forum advised voters, party loyalists, politicians, and INEC officials to conduct themselves in accordance with the laid down rules of the commission.

According to Mr. Mahmood, the commission would prosecute anybody found violating the rules of the commission, no matter how highly placed in the society. Mahmood, who spoke through a representative, Dr. Lucky Mustaphar, a national commissioner, assured the nation and Rivers people in particular that INEC was working tirelessly with security agencies to create conducive atmosphere and safety for voters, party agents, and electoral officers at the elections centres.

“There has been issues of election violence and widespread malpractices, including kidnapping in the last 2015 general and March 19 rerun elections which invariably turned the state into a theater of war and acrimony that necessitated the cancellation of the elections, but we have restated INEC’s commitment to change the situation for the better.

“INEC condemns provocative comments and trading blames at each other. Observers and election monitors have a vital role to play to ensure the election is free and fair. The movement of persons, including INEC officials on duty, from one polling unit to the other is highly restricted and prohibited during elections, as offenders will be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law,” he said.

Also speaking, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, warned that the police would arrest and prosecute anybody caught violating electoral laws in the December 10 legislative re-run election in Rivers state.

The police IG, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Operations, Joshua Habila said, the police was combat-ready to track down any form of violence and other criminal intentions, including the intentions to snatch ballot boxes, cause chaos or foment civil disturbances during the re-run elections.

“The police and the military will provide security in line with Electoral Laws and the nation’s constitution to enable Rivers people and other Nigerians resident in the state to exercise their franchise without fear or favour. The Police have provided 28, 000 police officers in addition to other security agencies, while 350 patrol vehicles have also been provided to check intervention points, in addition to 18 gun boats to assist the navy to carry out restriction of movement in the waterways.

“We will cut off the arm of anybody found with arms and ammunition. We will match force with force. The Police have provided three helicopters for surveillance during the elections. We have provided sniff dogs to guard and protect INEC officials. The police have also provided medical team to address emergency cases of security agents,” he said.

According to the Police IG, from 12 midnight on Friday till 8pm of Saturday, movement would be restricted, warning that any person or group of persons hired by politicians to sabotage or impersonate the election would be arrested and persecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

The Rivers state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Aniedi Ikiowak, in another development, recalled that the court ordered the re-run elections in 37 seats in the state which involved 22 state House of Assembly seats, 12 House of Representatives seats and all three Senatorial seats in Rivers State.

He said that due to violence the elections conducted on March 19, 2016, but, were cancelled and suspended in some areas.

“INEC has fixed December 10, 2016 for the conclusion of the outstanding March 19, 2016 re-run election and this date remains sacrosanct. The re-run election will be conducted for three senatorial seats of Rivers East, Rivers South East, and Rivers West, and for eight Federal constituency seats of Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo, Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny/Degema, Akuku Toru, Khana/Gokana, Ikwerre/Emohua, Etche/Omuma and Okrika, Ogu/Bolo; for 10 state constituency seats. Card readers have been deployed to the local government areas, and will be used during the re-run elections. The modified voting and procedure which involves simultaneous accreditation and voting will be used,” he stated.