The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Sunday announced the cancellation of results in Etche and Asaritoru local government areas of Rivers State in Saturday’s re-run election for the federal and state legislatures. The election met every prediction as it was bloody, rowdy and full of the traditional inefficiency associated with INEC. Electoral materials got to some polling units very late; in some instances it never arrived as there were cases of materials being hijacked by thugs before they could get to the polling units.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, said the poll in the local governments was marred by violence and electoral irregularities.
The commission on Saturday suspended poll in six local government areas citing electoral violence and irregularities. The cancellation of election results in two LGAs brings to eight the number of local government where elections had to be conducted afresh. INEC said it was reviewing the entire election in the state and would make its stand public in due course.
However moments after the results in two LGAs were cancelled, Governor Nyesom Wike stormed a police station to release a collation officer allegedly arrested on the orders of former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi. Mrs. Ekwi Adebisa, the Ward 10 Collation Officer was allegedly abducted last night by Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi with support from some soldiers. The woman who was whisked away Gestapo style was later discovered at Mile 1 Police Station in Port Harcourt. Her abduction led to the suspension of collation of results in the Constituency.
There were eye witness reports that Amaechi and Dakuku Peterside were also at the police Station.
She was rumoured to have been taken to Novotel Hotel where former Governor Amaechi and Dakuku Peterside were lodged.
Her sudden appearance threw the entire milieu into more confusion. As at the time of filing this reports, both Wike and Amaechi and their supporters were holding meeting with policemen to resolve the jigsaw and calm nerves among the supporters of both gladiators whose altercations in the run-up to the election escalated the tension.
