Rivers Election Was Marred By Violence - INEC Staff

The ongoing trial of the Rivers state governorship election took a new turn today, September 11, when a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Charles Okoye, testified against the Peoples Democratic Party and Governor Nyesome Wike. 

Okoye, a witness presented by the All Progressives Congress at the tribunal said the state’s election was not credible because it was marred by violence.

He said that the report compiled by him and  his group indicates that there was no election in major parts of the state, adding that election was only held in some parts of the Eleme local government area, and that it was marred by violence like in other areas.

He said: “The election was characterised by violence, shooting, ballot box snatching, intimidation of voters and other forms of impunity in the major part of Rivers.

“I did a compilation of field report of what was gathered by me and other members of my group who monitored the election.’’ 

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Okoye gave the testimony while being led in evidence by counsel to the petitioners, Mr Akinlolu Olujimi (SAN).

Meanwhile, during proceedings, there was a serious argument between INEC’s counsel, Onyechi Ipeazu, and the 1st respondent as Ipeazu protested Okoye’s presence in the court.

According to him, he was not informed by INEC that such a witness will be coming to testify at the tribunal, and he further urged the tribunal to disallow the witness from giving testimonies.

“As a party to this matter, I am supposed to be aware of the INEC staff who is coming to testify before such person can be allowed, “ he said.

He also cited Paragraph 51(1A) of the Electoral Act, several laws and authority to argue his point for the witness from INEC not to give his testimonies.

He said: ”As a party to this matter, I am supposed to be aware of the INEC staff who is coming to testify before such person can be allowed.” 

Meanwhile,  Wike has stated that the state was excluded from the bailout funds recently released to states  by President Muhammadu Buhari.