The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has broken its silence on the ongoing protest by parties to inspect electoral materials and obtain the Certified True Copies (CTC) of documents used in conducting the just-concluded general elections in Rivers State.
Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by its Governorship Candidate, Tonye Cole, started the protest, which was later joined by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Members of the two parties clashed on Monday causing bloodshed and destruction of properties in Port Harcourt with Cole saying he was attacked and injured by the thugs.
On Tuesday while Cole and other APC chieftains stayed away from the streets, different groups of PDP members held protests in front of INEC’s office.
A PDP group dominated by women stormed the commission’s office demanding that the PDP must jointly partake in the inspection of materials used in the election.
House of Assembly members including the Leader of the House, Martins Amawhule; Deputy Speaker, Edison Ehie and the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Samuel Nwanosike, joined the protest.
They further demanded immediate arrest of Cole for an alleged murder saying the APC Candidate’s attack on them on Monday resulted in the death of one person.
They said the party had already submitted a petition to the Commissioner of Police for Cole’s arrest and prosecution.
The protesters brandished a copy of the PDP’s petition dated March 24 where they demanded that INEC should release the CTC of electoral materials.
They vowed to sustain the protest to avoid a repeat of the 2016 scenario in which evidence from the police was used to cancel the electoral victories of the PDP at the Appeal Court and a similar situation in Imo State.
But the protest took a dramatic twist when another group led by a fetish doctor in his full regalia came to perform a sacrifice in front of the INEC office.
Wike wondered why Cole, who is standing trial for diverting $50m belonging to the state would be angling to govern the Rivers.
INEC, however, in a statement signed by the Rivers Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Johnson Sinikiem, said though the application for the CTC remained the legitimate entitlements of the candidates, some basic processes must be followed.
Sinikiem said the commission was processing about 50 applications it received so far from candidates and that the process was ongoing.
He said: ” The commission has observed with equanimity the unfolding events in the past few days concerning the issuance of Certified True Copies of election materials and access for inspection of election materials used during the just concluded 2023 General Elections in Rivers State.
“Although the application of Certified True Copies of documents and access for inspection of election materials are the legitimate entitlement of Candidates and Parties to election petitions, these are however governed by processes and procedures which include payment of requisite fees, making copies/photocopies of relevant documents and certification by the authorised official of the commission.
“The commission has received nearly fifty (50) of these applications since the conclusion of the Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections Rivers State and a good number of these applications have been processed in accordance with the date of receipt of such applications and payment of certification fees. This process is still on-going.
“The commission has also advised all applicants to visit our local government offices where these documents are domiciled for inspection while we work out modalities for inspection of other documents domiciled at the state office in accordance with available spaces but they insisted that the huge volumes of documents like ballot papers be brought to the state office.
“They are once again reminded to avail themselves of this opportunity at our local government offices to inspect these materials as earlier advised.
“The management of INEC Rivers State therefore wishes to assure all applicants and the general public that the commission is committed to discharging its constitutional and lawful duties without preferences or bias, and do request the cooperation and understanding of all parties and the general public to enable us serve you better”.