WHY WE DEPLOYED OUR MEN AT RIVERS STATE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OFFICE – POLICE

download 29 jpeg

WHY WE DEPLOYED OUR MEN AT RIVERS STATE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OFFICE – POLICE
The Rivers Police Command on Tuesday denied sealing the office headquarters of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission in Port Harcourt
Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, made the clarification in reaction to publication by some online platforms that the office of RSIEC was sealed by the police.
According to Iringe-Koko, the police officers seen at the RSIEC office were deployed to the place on the directive of the Commission­er of Police to protect the facility against any attack during the on­going nationwide protest.
She further advised journalists to always verify their facts before publication.
SP Koko also revealed that there is no iota of truth in the al­legation published in some social media platforms that the police assaulted and beat up some pro­testers.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it is in total support of the conduct of the local government elections in Rivers State on October 5, 2024.
The party has also stated that it is participating in the elections, and has, indeed, submitted the names of its candidates for the various positions.
The party made its position known in a letter to the Chair­man, Independent National Elec­toral Commission (INEC), INEC headquarters, Abuja, titled, ‘Re: Position of the Rivers State All Pro­gressives Congress (APC) on the forthcoming Local Government Election in Rivers State vis-a-vis the judgement in suit no. FHC/ ABJ/987/2024.”
A statement signed by Chair­man, APC Rivers State, Chief Emeka Beke, and State Secretary, APC Rivers State, Hon. Sam Sam Etetegwung, in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, recalled that following an attempt by some members of the National Working Committee of the APC to displace the duly elect­ed State Executive Committee of the party in Rivers State by pur­porting to have dissolved the execu­tive committee and replaced same with a caretaker committee led by one Chief Tony Okocha, the elect­ed State Executive Committee ap­proached the High Court of Rivers State in suit no. PHC/3592/CS/2023 (between Sam Sam Etetegwung and Abdullahi Ganduje & Ors), and suit no. PCH/3735/CS/2023 (between Chief Barnax Ezeboy Enyi & Ors and All Progressives Congress & Ors).
The statement noted that in a judgment, the High Court of Riv­ers State presided by Hon. Justice S. H. Aprioku affirmed the validity and subsistence of the Beke-led ex­ecutive committee until 2025.
It further added that the court also set aside the purported care­taker committee of Chief Tony Okocha, and declared that the duly elected State Executive Committee (as led by Chief Emeka Beke) is the authentic leadership of the All Pro­gressives Congress in Rivers State.
The statement also stated that the party was aware that the Federal High Court presided by Hon. Justice Peter Lifu delivered a judgment in suit no. PHC/ABJ/ CS/987/2024.
It further stated that it is equal­ly aware that on the 4th day of Sep­tember, 2024, the High Court of Riv­ers State presided by Hon Justice I. P. C. Igwe in suit no. PHC/2696/ CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State In­dependent Electoral Commission had given a judgment compelling the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice.
It noted that the judgment, be­ing first-in-time to the latter judg­ment in FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024, takes precedence, cognisance of the fact that when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails.
According to the statement: “We, however, hereby notify you that Chief Tony Okocha, who filed that suit purportedly as ‘Chairman, Caretaker Commit­tee’ of the All Progressives Con­gress, Rivers State chapter, is an impostor and totally unknown to the Rivers chapter of the All Pro­gressives Congress. He is neither the chairman nor is he a leader in any capacity whatsoever.
“He (Chief Tony Okocha) does not also have the authority of the leadership of the party in Rivers State as constituted under Chief Emeka Beke, to file or maintain the said suit on its behalf.
“We are equally aware that on the 4th day of September, 2024, the High Court of Rivers State per Hon Justice I. P. C. Igwe in suit no. PHC/2696/CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has given a judgment compelling the Rivers State Inde­pendent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice.”
It further urged the public and institutions to discountenance the rantings and antics of Tony Okocha and his cohorts, and fully participate in the October 5 local government election in the state.

  • Dons Eze

    DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.

    Related Posts

    NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS – DOGARA

    NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS –DOGARA A former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has attributed the North’s current state of backwardness to its leaders. He also urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu in transforming the nation through the tax reform bills currently awaiting the endorsement of the National Assembly. Dogara spoke as a guest speaker at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria. The event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising”, addressed issues surrounding governance and development. The former Speaker lamented that Arewa political leaders mismanaged opportunities to lead Nigeria for over 40 years, leaving the region plagued with poverty and underdevelopment. According to Dogara, northerners should resist the temptation to blame President Tinubu for the North’s current plight. He emphasised the need to unite in supporting the tax reform bills, which he said were designed to bring transformation to the North and Nigeria as a whole. “We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem. They have not come to cheat the North. That is out of the question. Some are claiming that Yoruba people are getting appointments, but let’s reflect. We ruled this country for over 40 years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders,” Dogara said. Speaking on Value Added Tax (VAT) and federal allocations received by states, Dogara asked, “We have had so much, but what did our governors do with the resources? They squandered them instead of investing in meaningful development.” He also cited the Ajaokuta Steel Industry, initiated by the Shagari administration, which was 98 per cent completed but was later allowed to deteriorate. “The project was almost finished, yet it was left to rot,” he said. Dogara urged northerners to support President Tinubu’s efforts to transform the country through the tax reform bills currently in the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN), Reverend Joseph John Hayab, stated that the organisation was established in 2007 to provide platforms and opportunities for Christians to explore effective ways of participating in Nigeria’s national life, particularly in areas related to spiritual, social, and economic growth. Hayab urged Christian leaders to deliberate on the issue of tax reforms currently being considered by Nigeria’s legislative arm.

    INVESTIGATION SHOWS SEVEN REASONS BVAS MAY NOT WORK IN NIGERIA

    INVESTIGATION SHOWS SEVEN REASONS BVAS MAY NEVER WORK IN NIGERIA The growing concern in some quarters over the inability of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct free, fair and credible elections again gained gravitas last week in the wake of Ghana’s successful presidential elections. Without prejudice to the introduction of technology (card reader and co) by the Professor Attahiru Jega-led INEC which conducted the general elections of 2011 and 2015, and the outcomes of those elections, Nigerians have largely expressed disappointment at the elections conducted in 2019 and 2023, as evidenced by the barrage of pre- post-election litigations. Apart from the 2015 presidential election which saw incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, conceding defeat, almost all presidential election results in Nigeria have suffered the embarrassing discounts of distrust and lack of integrity. Last week in Ghana, even before the completion of final collation of results of its presidential election, incumbent Vice President and candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, Mahamudu Bawumia, called his opposition candidate, John Mahama, to concede defeat. Madam Jean Mensa is the chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission and she announced the results later.Based on wide-range consultations and interviews, seven major issues have been codified as reasons BVAS may not work in Nigeria as it does in Ghana. The critical difference between elections held in Ghana and Nigeria using BVAS -1). Integrity of Electoral ManagersGhana: The integrity of electoral officials in Ghana is a cornerstone of the country’s success with the Bimordal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS. Transparent practices, accountability, and a genuine commitment to credible elections have ensured the smooth implementation of the system. The leadership prioritizes the credibility of elections over personal or political interests. Nigeria: In Nigeria, the human factor has been a significant hindrance. Electoral managers have often been accused of bias, corruption, and complicity in sabotaging the BVAS process. These failings erode public trust and compromise the efficiency of the system. -2). Appointment of Non-Partisan OfficialsGhana: Electoral officers in Ghana are appointed based on merit and neutrality, ensuring that those overseeing the electoral process are not influenced by political affiliations. This reduces the likelihood of human interference in technological operations like BVAS. Nigeria: In contrast, Nigeria frequently appoints individuals with political affiliations or connections to influential politicians. Some are card-carrying members of political parties or relatives of political officeholders. This blatant partisanship creates an environment where BVAS can be intentionally misused or sabotaged. -3). Retention of Proven CharactersGhana: Ghana values continuity and institutional memory, retaining proven leaders who have been conducting credible elections and whose know-how are applied to future ones, fostering trust in electoral management. A typical case in Ghana was Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who was the first substantive chairman of the commission from 1993 and was retained up to 2015 because of his track record of honesty and integrity which has eventually transformed the Ghanaian electoral landscape. At the 25th anniversary of the Institute for Economic Affairs, IEA, in Ghana, in 2014, Professor Jega said: “We in Nigeria have a lot that we owe to Dr. Afari Gyan. No doubt he was the longest-serving electoral commissioner on the continent of Africa and…He’s done a lot to restore stability in the electoral system in your country (Ghana). “We (Nigerians) have learned a lot listening to him, understanding the challenges he faced, how he addressed them and how we could do better than he had done because it was very important for us to be able to do that.” Nigeria: In Nigeria, electoral officials, with a reputation for integrity, are often removed or sidelined. Between 1993 and 2015, for instance, several chairpersons of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who resisted undue influence were replaced. Such as Humprey Nwosu, to other known Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs,…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    WE’VE ACHIEVED 80% SUCCESS AGAINST KIDNAPPING – RIBADU

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 16 views

    THERE’RE HONEST POLICE OFFICERS IN NIGERIA

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 25 views

    PH REFINERY SHUTS DOWN AGAIN AFTER $1.5BN REHABILITATION

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 25 views

    NIGERIA’S MOBILE SUBSCRIPTIONS HIT 157.3 MILLION IN OCTOBER, MTN AIRTEL GAIN

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 25 views

    JUBILATION AS FORMER KOGI GOV, YAHAYA BELLO, ACCUSED OF STEALING N110.4BN GOVT MONEY IS RELEASED ON BAIL

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 36 views

    EKITI MAGISTRATE COURT CLAIMED RULING ON DELE FAROTIMI’S BAIL APPLICATION MISSING

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 54 views