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Sekibo, Ideozu Win Senatorial Polls …As PDP, Others Reject Abe’s Declaration …Urges INEC To Release Other Results
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the immediate release of the results of last Saturday’s elections in Rivers State, saying that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was withholding the results in order to allow the All Progressives Congress (APC) manipulate the results.
In a statement issued in Abuja, before midday, yesterday, the spokesman of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the party was in possession of all the results as announced at the polling units and it was clear that the PDP had won.
The party also rejected the declaration of Senator Magnus Abe as the winner of Rivers South East Senatorial District, saying, no election was held in the area.
“The only result that has been released which declared Magnus Abe of the APC winner, is an unprecedented massive manipulation of the electoral process in active connivance with the security agencies. The whole world knows that elections did not take place in the Rivers South East Senatorial District.
“We, therefore, reject the declaration of Magnus Abe with the fabricated results, and demand INEC to conduct election in that constituency. We promise to avail ourselves every opportunity to seek redress on this matter in the interest of democracy and that of the constituents who are denied their right to vote” the statement noted.
Making further clarification on results still being awaited, Adeyeye said they include those of Rivers West and East Senatorial Districts, Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency and Andoni State House of Assembly Constituency.
“We have the results declared at the various polling units which show that, Senator George Abiye Sekibo of the PDP won the Rivers East Senatorial District while Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu also of the PDP won the Rivers West Senatorial District, respectively.
“Equally, we make bold to state that Hon. Abiante and Ikunyi Ibani both of the PDP won their respective elections into Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency and Andoni State Constituency, respectively.
“INEC is currently withholding these results in cohort with security agencies to pave way for the APC to manipulate the outcome of the elections. We urge INEC to immediately release the affected results intact.
“Anything short of this is unacceptable and the INEC, security agencies and the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi should be held responsible in whatever manner the people of Rivers State decide to react for robbing them of their votes.
“We again condemn in totality, the adverse role of the Nigerian Army, the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other security agencies during this rerun elections in Rivers State. It was a nightmare and a complete reversal of their constitutional mandates of safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country and the protection of lives and properties.
“There are incontrovertible evidences that the security agencies worked for the APC against the interest of the Rivers people. They followed the directives of the APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and Governor Ganduje of Kano State during the mega rally of the APC.
“They killed, they maimed, they harassed all in the desperate need to help the APC win at all cost. Very sad!
“It is trite that the Army dishonourably left their primary assignments and worked assiduously with INEC in collusion with the APC leaders in Rivers State led by the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and mindlessly wrote the results that produced Senator Magnus Abe in Rivers South-East Senatorial District. This action depicts sheer rape on democracy.
“It is no gainsaying that this rerun elections in Rivers State was not only a contest between political parties but mostly the PDP in contest with the Army, the Police, the INEC, the APC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria represented by the Honourable Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and cohorts.
“We, therefore, call on all Nigerians to rise up to this challenge and stop the Federal Government, the APC and INEC from organizing undemocratic elections as witnessed in most part of Rivers State and other previous elections in the country since the assumption of this government. If Nigerian elections travesty continues, it is goodnight to democracy”, the statement noted.
But shortly after the statement, INEC declared the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator George Sekibo, winner of the Rivers East Senatorial District seat contested in the December 10th rerun elections.
INEC stated that Sekibo defeated his rival, Chief Andrew Uchendu of the All Progressives Congress, to claim the seat.
The returning officer for the senatorial district, Orji Onu Okumenkama, said Sekibo polled 93,098 votes to defeat Uchendu who scored 34,193 votes.
Sekibo’s victory was followed by a protest by APC leaders in the state, who maintained that they would not accept the result.
There was commotion at the Port Harcourt Local Government Secretariat before the result was announced as security agents shot sporadically into the air.
It was gathered that a PDP collation agent, who is the state Commissioner for Urban Development, Chinyere Igwe, was arrested at the secretariat by the police.
INEC also declared Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu of the PDP as winner the Rivers West Senatorial District rerun election.
Ideozu was certified winner yesterday afternoon with 107,166 votes to defeat Otelemaba Amachree of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 48,898 votes.
With the development, PDP now has two senatorial districts – Rivers East and West.
Rivers West Senator-elect, Ideozu, was a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Ahoada West between 1999 and 2003.
Afterwards, between 2003 and 2007, he represented Abua-Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives before his appointment as commissioner for education.
Earlier, Senator Magnus Abe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been declared winner of the Rivers South East Senatorial District rerun election.
He was on Sunday night declared winner after Saturday’s rerun by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers South-East, Senator Magnus Abe, has won the legislative rerun election in his senatorial District.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Gideon Onukwuisi, declared Abe winner on Sunday after announcing the result at the collation centre in Bori, Khana Local Government Area.
Abe polled 125,938 votes to beat his opponent from the Peoples Democratic Party, Olaka Wogu, who got 25,394 votes.
Onukwuisi explained that out of the 154,703 votes cast, 152,706 votes were valid while 2,627 votes were invalid.
Dedicating his victory at the poll to God, Abe, who later addressed journalists, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the election.
The senator-elect also expressed gratitude to his party supporters for having confidence in him and pledged to give them a better representation.
Also, a House of Representatives candidate of the APC for Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, Maurice Pronem, was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Pronem won the election with 68,219 votes to beat his closest rival, Dumnamene Deekor, who polled 20,329 votes.
The Returning Officer, Prof. G.G. Osuagwu, stated that out of the 91,533 total votes cast, 90,485 came out valid while 1,048 were rejected.
Friday Nkeeh has been declared winner of the Rivers State House of Assembly seat for Khana Constituency 2.
Nkeeh polled 15,000 votes to defeat Dinebari Loolo of the PDP who scored 4,000 votes.
For House of Representatives, Maurice Pronen of the APC scored 68,219 votes while Dum Deekor of the PDP scored 20,329 votes for Khana/Gokana constituency.
Prof. G.G Osuagu of Michael Opara University is the returning officer for Khana Local Government.
Dr. Innocent Barikor of the APC has been declared winner of the election with 24,624 votes in Gokana State Constituency.
Also, Dr. Barry Mpigi of the APC declared winner of Tai/Oyigbo/Eleme Federal Constituency. Mpigi won with 48,760 votes while his opponent, Jacobson Nbina of the PDP polled 11,737 votes.
A PDP candidate for Bonny State Constituency, Abiye Pepple, was declared the winner of the election with 6,610 votes to beat the APC candidate, Henry Amangi, who got 2,330 votes.
In Omuma LGA, PDP won in the House of Representatives election with 6,100 votes while the APC came second with 3,100. For the Senate, the PDP polled 6,000 while the APC had 3,050.
But in Rivers East Senatorial District, the results released in six local government areas indicated that PDP won in Etche, Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma and Port Harcourt.
The results from Andoni, Eleme, Emohua and Ikwerre local government areas were still being expected as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State says it vehemently rejects the results as announced by the presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring APC candidates, Magnus Abe, Barry Mpigi, Friday Nke-Ee, Innocent Barikor and others, winners of their respective offices in Rivers South East Senatorial District.
A statement by the state Chairman of the party, Bro. Felix Obuah and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said the rejection of the results stems from the fact that election never took place in the whole of the Rivers South East District.
The PDP challenged the APC, INEC, Army, Police or other security agencies to show proof that there was election in the zone, adding that whoever lays claim to results in the area or claims that election took place was a criminal.
Obuah explained that what happened on Saturday, December 10, 2016 was nothing short of war declared on the people of the Rivers South East by Magnus Abe, Barry Mpigi, Army, SARS, policemen and APC thugs dressed in Army uniform.
The state PDP chairman further added that what happened on the Saturday rerun election was like scenes from a classical movie where military might was brazenly deployed to over-run a hapless and defenseless people.
The PDP said the situation became most unfortunate when it recalled the series of outcry raised by the party on Saturday on the unwholesome activities of some chieftains of the APC in Ogoni including Executive Director Finance/Administration of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Derrick Mene, who connived with the INEC, military, SARS and APC thugs to hijack the process, regretting that these outcries fell on deaf ears as the same INEC, police and military, who were expected to arrest the situation turned blind eye.
Painfully retrospecting on the events of last Saturday, Obuah said the PDP had raised alarm over the invasion of some communities in Tai Local Government Area of the State by the combined forces of the army, police and scores of identifiable thugs imported by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He lamented the arrest of over 200 innocent citizens while scores were shot at and one killed by the army allegedly sponsored by Barry Mpigi, candidate of the APC for Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo Federal Constituency.
Obuah also recalled that in Barako, Gokana LGA, army invaded the community on the orders of the Senatorial candidate of the APC for Rivers South East, Magnus Abe, and whisked away scores of persons including one Chief Awindi Dughor, a chieftain of the PDP to an unknown destination.
Another disturbing case, according to the PDP, was that of the Director of Finance and Administration of the NDDC, Derrick Mene, who with the connivance of security agencies stationed along the road at School- to- Land axis of Wiiyaakara in Khana Local Government Area, hijacked materials meant for Wards 8, 9, 18 and other wards.
Obuah said Mene took the hijacked materials to his hotel at Wiiyaakara where they thump-printed and wrote results, and that he called on the Inspector-General of Police and the army authorities to move in immediately and recover those materials.
The PDP also recalled that the private residence of Magnus Abe was used as the Collation Center for collating of Gokana results.
The PDP chairman stated that the party having reviewed the entire exercise last Saturday came to the conclusion that there was no election in Khana LGA, calling on INEC to cancel the rerun elections in the LGA as it was been marred by irregularities and orchestrated violence by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against members of the PDP.
The PDP drew the attention of INEC, APC and its collaborators namely Army, SARS and police, which mortgaged its conscience to declare Magnus Abe, Barry Mpigi and the other APC candidates in Rivers South East winner to the consequences of going to equity with unclean hands.
“If Magnus Abe knows God, he cannot lay claim to stolen results. Thieves are not Christians, unless he is telling us that he is a thief. It’s very ungodly to steal. Magnus Abe and his cohorts have robbed the people”, Obuah declared.
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Arson: Those Behind It’ll Account For Atrocities -Fubara …Swears In Bipi, Three Others As Commissioners
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that his administration will not fold its hands and watch sponsored political thugs run berserk, committing arson in the State.
The Governor, therefore, assured that, working with the Nigerian Police Force and the Directorate of State Services (DSS), measures will be taken to unravel those behind the recent burning of council Secretariats at Ikwerre, Emohua and Eleme Local Government areas, with a view to making them account for their atrocities.
Governor Fubara gave the assurance while swearing in four new commissioners into the Rivers State Executive Council at Government House in Port Harcourt yestersday.
Those sworn in are Hon. Israel Lebura Ngbuelu, PhD; Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi; Barrister Otamiri John Ngubo; and Hon. Barrister Benibo Anabraba.
Governor Fubara recalled mentioning when he sworn-in newly elected Local Government Councils’ Chairmen on 6th October, 2024, that there was intelligence on planned mayhem by misguided persons, who had threatened to prevent the elected officers from resuming duties.
True to it, Governor Fubara said, the sponsored political thugs hatched their plans, and burnt valued buildings at some council secretariats.
He said, “I said it before it happened. I knew because they were unhappy, they would go extra miles to create disaffection in the minds and hearts of the good people of Rivers State.
“We want to also let the people know that what has happened (arson) after the election, we are not going to allow it to go uninvestigated.
“A similar event had happened in this manner before, and after some weeks, some of our supporters were declared wanted in order to turn the story around.
“But this time around, I strongly believe, with the support and cooperation of the Nigerian Police and the Directorate of State Services (DSS), we will unravel those behind the assault and make sure that they account for their atrocities.”
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation for the show of patience and calmness by majority of Rivers people despite the fact that they are angry with the reckless acts of the misguided miscreants.
The Governor said he has continued to show leadership, provided the climate that has engendered productive endeavours, and will not mislead those he is leading.
“As your leader; the one steering the ship, I assure you I will not mislead anyone of you. I still stand on the path of peace. We have cases of arson in some local government areas.
“But, I appreciate your calmness. I have always maintained that we are going to be the greatest losers, if we meet them force-for-force. We need to go with peace.
“So, I will encourage everyone of you not to follow them with violence. We are carrying a basket of precious eggs in our hands. So, we need to follow them with carefulness and wisdom.”
Governor Fubara reiterated what he said the previous day on what should matter most for Rivers State, which is a firm support to ensure that the progress of Nigeria is sustained.
He said, if oil theft is not checked, the country’s economy will be badly impacted, and there will not be funds to address critical issues.
“We are in a situation where the fund that is being generated from oil production is not sufficient to tackle the challenges of Nigeria, and every hand has to be on deck to make sure that there is increase in production.
“Our focus here, not minding the distractions, will be how to provide support. You have to work with us to make sure that we curb this issue of oil theft and pipeline vandalisation.
“This is the only way that the allowances (revenue) will increase and more will also come to our State, and more progress will also be achieved in this State.”
Governor Fubara explained that his administration is doing a lot for the good people of the State, that are not being seen because of the political drama that takes their attention away.
He, however, said that his administration is working out modalities, and will soon choose a day, which could probably be before the end of October, 2024, to showcase a few projects and services that have positively impacted lives in the State.
Governor Fubara congratulated the newly sworn-in commissioners for making it into the Rivers State Executive Council.
He explained that more persons whose loyalty are for Rivers people and the administration needed to be admitted into the Rivers State Executive Council to help drive the policy of government because they will not resign their appointment.
Governor Fubara said: “We want to be sure, at this point, who we are adding into the Council, so that we will not wake up one morning and see resignation letter. So, we are taking our time.
“And usually, after a normal political period, there used to be what we call balancing. So, I can also say that the new Commissioners that are coming in are coming from their zones to also balance the political equation.”
Governor Fubara charged them to be dedicated, forthright, diligent and productive while rendering quality services to the State.
The Governor said he believed in their capacity to deliver because of their exposure to the workings of government, and expressed the hope that they will contribute positively to the success of the administration.
He said, “So, let me thank everyone of you. Let me also use this opportunity to thank the good people of Rivers State for their support, and to assure them that we will continue to defend, protect the interest of Rivers people.
“I want to thank everyone of you for your support, more especially before, during and after the elections. I appreciate your doggedness, your belief in our course to salvage this State, to protect the integrity of this State,” he added.
Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, has sought media support to fast-track the implementation of the ongoing reforms in the civil service sector.
Walson-Jack made the request during a cocktail organised by her office for media executives from different organisations in Abuja.
The event, according to her, aimed at interacting with the media men one-on-one, appreciate them and implore them to continue to strengthen the bond with the office.
“I want to start by thanking each and everyone of you for honouring this invitation. I want to say that we purposely designed this grail cocktail so that we can have one-on-one interactions.
“Let me also go ahead to thank you for all the supports you have given to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) in the years past I know that the Fourth Estate of the realm has always supported this office.
“I will also go ahead to thank you for your support, especially at my announcement as the HoCSF and that support has continued, up till date.
“We, therefore, thought it fit that we should organise this event just to interact with you to strengthen the bond that this office has with the media, “ she said.
The HoCSF recalled that her office had continued with programmes she met on ground upon assumption of office, especially the ongoing reforms on Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP- 2022 to 2025).
She, therefore, appealed to the media for continuous reportage on the initiative, so as to give it the necessary publicity for proper dissemination to the citizens.
“You will recall that the office has the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP- 2022 to 2025) and that is the plan that we are still driving.
“We want to request that you collaborate more with us, we are asking that the friendship, the partnership go beyond what it is now to ensure that the reforms which this office is driving get the full publicity it requires,” she said.
Walson-Jack used the medium to announce the preparation to re-introduce the civil service national anthem officially for the entire civil servants to recite at every national programme.
“The anthem has been re-introduced to drive the reforms and it’s expected that the anthem will be sung by all federal civil/public servants and indeed Nigerians.
“And it will be an anthem that will encourage every public servants to be efficient, productive, incorruptible and citizen-centred, “ she added.
Participants at the event congratulated Mrs Walson-Jack for her uplifting to the position of the HoCSF and pledged to continue in the relationship.
In a response, Mr Ephraims Sheyin, Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), pledged the agency’s readiness to give the HoCSF the needed support.
According to him, supporting government policies has always been NAN’ priority as government’s owned media organisation.
“You can take it for granted that we are going to give the Office total support. It is part of our own mandates to support Federal Government policies, so we are going to do that fully for the head of service.
“As she said, she has her policies which are in tandem with the federal government policies, she is asking for the support in implementation of the Federal Government policies.
“She has very lofty ideas, she has lofty things that she believes that we should do. Our job is to make sure that whatever government wants to do, we have to support such policies, “ he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Mrs Halima Musa, Director News, NTA, assured her office’s partnership with the Head of service towards ensuring communicating the needed values on excellence, incorruptibility and new culture of efficiency to the public.
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LG Polls: Rogue Policemen Break RSIEC Gate, Strong Room To Steal Electoral Materials …Fubara Foils Attempt To Cart Away Materials
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has foiled an attempt by the Nigerian Police, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), to take over the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) at 1am on Friday, 4th October, 2024.
The rogue policemen were said to have attempted to scale through the gates and strong room of the Commission to cart away sensitive Electoral materials meant for the conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the State.
The deployment was said to have been ordered by the Inspector-General of Police.
However, the evil plots of the rogue policemen and DC Ops were botched when vigilant security officials alerted principal officers of the Commission and relevant government authorities, who immediately informed the Governor of the development.
The Governor immediately led a team of government officials, lawmakers from the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, top political stakeholders, and other leaders to storm the facility.
Addressing newsmen in front of RSIEC Office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, after an encounter with the rogue policemen, the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara condemned the conduct of the policemen on illegal duty, saying that the IGP was taking his friendship with some Abuja-based politicians too far.
He restated the position that the attempt to surreptitiously withdraw policemen already deployed to protect the facility, and replace them with a detachment from a neighbouring State was unacceptable.
He reminded the IGP that local government election was the internal affairs of states, and advised him to allow the federation unit conduct its affairs without interference.
At present, the Chief of Staff, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and State and National Assembly members, alongside other stakeholders, are manning the RSIEC office to ensure that the rogur policemen in two trucks and two Hilux vehicles do not return and that elections will go ahead as scheduled on Saturday.