The All Progressives Congress
governorship candidate in Rivers state, Tonye Cole has said that the decision
of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend the
announcement of election results in Rivers State was illegal and aimed to give
Gov. Nyelson Wike a soft landing, saying the decision was not covered by the
nation’s laws.
Director, Strategic Communication
of the Tonye Cole campaign Organisation, Prince Tonye Princewill wondered why
the commission failed to deal with areas where violence was reported, but
choose to with hold the result of the entire state when the governorship
candidate of the AAC and all others backed by the APC were cruising to victory.
Princewill said the suspension of
the announcement of election results in the state will stop the dethronement of
the Wike as the Governor of the state.
A statement signed by Princewill
and made available to NigerianEye in Abuja reads: “INEC’s decision is illegal
because it is not supported by law. Section 26 of the Electoral Act cited in
the INEC Press Release is not even applicable because that section deals with a
situation where a date has been appointed for the holding of an election, and
there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to
occur if the election is proceeded with on that date or it is impossible to
conduct the election as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies,
then the commission may postpone the election.
“You can see that this provision
does not apply to a situation where an election has already been conducted or
held, which is the present position in Rivers State.
“Since the elections in Rivers
State have been held Saturday, INEC is bound by virtue of section 27 of the
Electoral Act to announce the results. Having admitted in paragraph one of the
Press Release that it has conducted elections on the 9th of March in Rivers
State, INEC must by virtue of section 27 of the Electoral Act, announce the
results.
“INEC’s decision to postpone the
already held elections is ultra vires, illegal and unconstitutional. Such an
unlawful decision can now be challenged in court by virtue of section 26
subsection 5 of the Electoral Act. The challenge can be launched by any of the
many contestants at a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction and on such a
legal challenge, the decision of INEC shall also be suspended until the matter
is determined.
“Our concerns about INEC and our
lack of faith in the REC are continually validated. This was same way they
suspended a by election we held a few months ago when it was clear we were
winning. Now, the AAC candidate and several house of assembly candidates
supported by APC are cruising to victory and they do it again.
“Can they not just step out of
the way and let the will of Rivers’ people prevail?
Rivers state was largely
peaceful. Why not deal with areas where you say you have violence and leave the
other results to go through? It’s common sense. Why suspend a whole state? Wike
will go. It’s only a matter of time. We always knew this. Now the world knows
it too. Not even INEC can save him.”
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