INEC plans issuing certificates of return to PDP candidates in Rivers, says APC

The campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) IN Rivers state have alleged that even before the conclusion of collation of results for the governorship and state house of Assembly election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have concluded plans to hand over victory to the People’s Democratic Party in the state.

Director of Strategic Communication of the campaign, Prince Tonye Princewill said information available to them indicate that the Commission has already prepared certificates of return for all PDP candidates in preparation to formally declaring them winners.

Copies of the unsigned certificates allegedly prepared by the commission bearing the names of PDP candidates were dated March 14, 2019 and are supposedly issued for the outcome of an election held on the 9th of March 2019.

The certificates bearing the name of the INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and are for 20 state constituencies across the state.

Princewill said; “Even before the conclusion of the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections which it suspended in Rivers State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared the candidates of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, winners.

“The Commission has also prepared their Certificates of Return, including that of Governor Nyesom Wike. The certificates, which have the name of the National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, are reportedly in the custody of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Obo Effanga, who was the mastermind behind the certificates-before-election-results deal with PDP.

“Though the electoral umpire had suspended the Rivers’ elections via a statement on March 10, 2019, the certificates bear dates later than the April 15 date INEC said collated results would be declared. In its latest press statement on the election saga in Rivers State, INEC gave April 19 as the date that certificates of return will be issued to winners.

“The recent revelations that INEC had prepared Return Certificates in favour of some Candidates in the purportedly suspended Governorship and House of Assembly Elections in Rivers State which took place on the 9th of March, 2019, came to few political watchers, participants and activists as a surprise given the many ‘Electoral Faux pas’ and open bias shown by INEC in Rivers State electoral matters.

“To others, especially optimal optimists who still believed that INEC at a point in time, may perhaps carry out its duties impartially and independently like its name suggests, the revelations totally destroyed the slim hopes that INEC in Rivers State would do the right thing and allow the people of Rivers State to choose those they want to govern their affairs in the Brick House and House of Assembly.

“It should be recalled that INEC conducted the Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in the entire country on the 9th of March, 2019, Rivers State inclusive. It should also be recalled that whilst results were collated, declared and announced at seven (7) ward Collation Centers in Rivers State in clear violation of extant Electoral laws and totally ultra vires its powers under the Electoral Act (2010) as amended, purported to suspend an electoral process on spurious and unfounded allegations.

“What is particularly noteworthy is the fact that it was ONLY IN RIVERS STATE that this kind of electoral faux pas took place in Nigeria and furthermore, that the purported suspension only took place when INEC as well as observers and participants in the elections had seen that the Governorship Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Engr. Biokpomabo Festus Awara, had taken a clear and seemingly unassailable lead over the obviously preferred candidate of INEC in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike, current and outgoing Governor of Rivers State.

“What is most curious and begging for answers however, is that while INEC purportedly ‘suspended’ the Elections in Rivers State, it nonetheless secretly and in a manner totally devoid of even the slightest pretences of neutrality, went ahead to prepare in anticipation of the results it intended to declare, ‘Certificates of Return’ dated 14th of March, 2019.

“This was a time when the process was purportedly suspended by the imperial INEC in Rivers State led by the famous/infamous Obo Effanga, the State REC who could not conclude a bye election held in Phalga Constituency 3, again when he saw clearly that the PDP candidate was being trounced by the APC candidate.

“INEC had meanwhile severally announced plans for resumption of the final processes of the election in Rivers State but had jumpstarted that process by preparing in advance the said Certificates of Return in favour of mostly PDP candidates it intends to announce as returned.

“Why then one must ask, is INEC taking Rivers People for a ride