Rivers rerun: We won’t declare results that fell short of expectation, says INEC

Aniedi Ikoiwak, Rivers state resident electoral commissioner (REC), on Friday said nobody could coerce the commission into declaring results that fell short of expectations.

Ikoiwak said this in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, at the presentation of certificate of return to 11 members-elect of the state’s house of assembly.

He decried the violence that characterised the March 19 legislative re-run election in the state, saying that people of the state did not deserve such.

He said that nobody should expect results where elections did not take place.

“You cannot expect results where elections did not take place,” he said.

Ikoiwak said INEC was always ready to carry out its mandate of conducting elections in a transparent manner.

He urged politicians to see themselves as bridge builders, adding that INEC would analyse the negative and positive actions before taking decisions on matters affecting elections.

He also charged the political class to endeavour to make the environment conducive for election in the state.

Ikoiwak appealed to the members-elect to see their certificate as an opportunity to better the lives of their constituents, saying that it was not enough to receive certificate of return.

He urged them to improve the lives of the people of their constituencies through the introduction of people-oriented legislations in the assembly.

Those who received certificates of return were members-elect from Obio/Akpor 1, Obio/Akpor 11, Akuku Toru 1, Ahoada East 1 and Ahoada 11, all of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Others were representatives of Emohua, Onelga 1, Onelga 11 and Omuma, all PDP and those of Akuku Toru 11 and Opobo/Nkoro, who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

On Thursday, Magnus Abe, candidate of the APC in the election appealed to INEC to release the result of Tai local government area (LGA).

Claiming that his party won election in the LGA, Abe said the PDP had been doing everything within its powers to stop the electoral body from announcing the result.