The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should announce the result of the election held on March 19 in Tai Local Government area.
The call on the election umpire is contained in a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Chris Finebone.
Finebone stated that they were calling for the release of the result of Tai following a threat by the Peoples Democratic Party in the state that there will be dire consequences should the results of concluded rerun election in the said Local government be declared by INEC.
The statement read:
“The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has taken notice of a press statement by the Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of Peoples Democratic People (PDP), Felix Obuah, signed by his media aide, Jerry Needam in which reference was made to a petition by the PDP chairman threatening dire consequences should the results of concluded rerun election in Tai Local Government be declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The APC feels disturbed that a totally dishonest narrative is being foisted on critical stakeholders and the public by the PDP to the effect that the rerun election in Tai was cancelled and therefore results cannot be released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Indeed, this is far from the truth!
“By INEC guidelines, the Tai election has been concluded and so declared and INEC knows this to be a fact. No amount of threat and intimidation will sustain the injustice of denying Tai people consummation of the franchise they freely expressed on March 19, 2016.
“It is very important for INEC to announce the result for Tai because the people of the area are saying it loud and clear that there was an election in Tai and they voted. Therefore, the candidates need to know what they scored so far in the March 19 rerun election before going into another one.
“The APC would like to state that INEC must correct the injustice to Tai people by releasing results of the March 19 rerun election. This is the time for INEC to do the right thing. INEC has done more than enough favours to the PDP already including declaring seats for PDP candidates who did not win.
“The law enforcement agencies should be alive to their responsibilities at all times including before, during and after the conclusion of the rerun elections whenever INEC announces a date to hold it.
“The APC insists that, in line with relevant INEC guidelines, the rerun election in Tai Local Government Area was duly held and people voted. Therefore, it behoves on INEC to release the result prior to rerun election conclusion.”
In a similar reaction, the APC candidate for Eleme-Oyigbo-Tai Fed Constituency Barry Mpigi said the rerun election in Tai Local government area on March 19 was duly concluded.
MPIGI said “voting took place across Tai, ballots collated and results declared by INEC accredited officials, with Matthew Dike of the APC returned as winner for Tai state constituency seat.”
According to a statement by his spokesman, Joe Gwezia, Mpigi boasted that himself and Senator Magnus Abe commanded popularity and enjoyed the support of the people to win any properly conducted election their constituencies.
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