PORT HARCOURT – The Chairmanship candidate of the Labour Party in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Prince Chioma Chinwo, has raised serious concerns over the conduct of the just concluded Local Govt Election in Rivers State, which took place on October 5, 2024.
Chinwo, while condemning the outcome of the polls, describe the process as a “sham saying the elections fell below expectation and globally acceptable standards.
Prince Chinwo in a statement in Port Harcourt on Sunday, explained that he decided to contest in the election following the state governor’s promise, as well as the assurance of Rivere State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), to conduct a free, fair and credible elections, but expressed disappointment that the exercise turned out to be a selection instead of a contest.
According to Chinwo, election didn’t take place across the 20 wards of Port Harcourt City LGA, adding that there were reports of missing results sheets, coupled with the fact that there was no ward collation center, no local collation center and returning officers were nowhere to be found.
The statement reads in part: “I had confidence contesting in the election because I believed in the promises of the RSIEC Chairman who is a Rtd Judge and the State Governor to conduct a free, fair and credible elections, but rather it turned out to be a selection and the worst in history as the electoral body called Rivers state independent electoral commission (RSIEC) failed to conduct a free, fair and credible elections.
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“Election didn’t take place across the 20 wards of the LGA, results sheets were missing, imagine Election where there was no ward collation center, no local Collation Center, Returning officer were nowhere to be found because of no result sheets.
“Election where winners were announced without number of accredited voters, without number of void votes, without total number of votes cast without number of votes by the other party candidates.”
Speaking further, Chinwo said since after the elections, RSIEC’s office had been under lock and key, making it impossible for political parties to gain access and get the copies of results.
“The most shocking aspect of the irregularities was that chairmanship written results were declared before councilors and no figures were announced, the kangaroo arrangement quickly led to presentation of certificate of returns few hours later they were sworn in by the state governor on a Sunday evening,
“In the same vein, the RSIEC office has been under lock and keys as political parties couldn’t gain access to get the results of the purported elections, however my legal team have taken action to regain our stolen mandate in a more legitimate manner.
“I am using this opportunity to call on my teaming supporters and followers to remain calm and peaceful as justice will be served.”
