INEC opens defense. Declares Rivers elections free and fair

The  Independent  National  Electoral  Commission, INEC,  on Thursday  opened its defence of the Rivers  State  Governorship  Election  with  a declaration  that the election  was  held in compliance  with  the  Electoral  Act  and the electoral  guidelines.  INEC  tendered  relevant  documents  and  electoral  materials  to prove the peaceful  and  legal  conduct of  the  election  with  the INEC   Electoral  Officer of Obio /Akpor, Mr Ebikoro  Tebekaemi testifying  to the  smooth  conduct  of  the  election   Tebekaemi  stated that INEC  used both card readers  and manual  accreditation for the April  11governorship  election  in Obio /Akpor  Local  Government  Area.  According  to  him,  a total  number  of  304,745 voters were accredited  using both card readers  and manual accreditation.  He said  of the number,  Card readers  accounted for  40,281 voters. The Obio/Akpor Local Government Area INEC  Electoral  Officer said that the distribution  of  election  materials and  actual  voting  took place  under a peaceful  environment  ensured  by the  Police,  the  Army  and other security  agencies.  He said  that all through  the  election  he did not receive  any reports  of snatching  of election  materials,  clash between  INEC  staff and thugs and the disruption  of  election.  Tebekaemi  denied  the  allegation  by the  Rivers  State  APC  that INEC  officials  colluded  with  the  PDP and security  agents   to engage  in multiple  thumb  printing  and electoral  malpractices.  He added that it was untrue that security  agents arrested  a bus conveying  electoral materials  and INEC  staff to an unauthorised  destination.  He said  no such report  was brought  to  his notice.  The INEC  Obio / Akpor Local Government Area Electoral  Officer said that enough  election  materials  were distributed to all the  wards of the LGA on April  11. He further  informed that  out of the 17 wards in Obio/Akpor Local  Government  Area,  governorship  election  held successfully  in 15 wards. He said  the two  wards where election  did not  hold are: wards 12 and 13. He was led in evidence  by counsel  to  INEC,  Onyechi  Ikpeazu (SAN )  and was cross examined  by counsel  to  Governor  Nyesom Wike,  Emmanuel  Ukala  (SAN ). Under cross  examination  by Chief Akin Olujimi  (SAN ) ,  Tebekaemi  maintained that at no time  did INEC  meet to decide  that only card readers  be used for governorship  election.  He said he was not aware of any press release  stopping  manual  accreditation  as it was never communicated to him officially .  INEC  has 6 days to present her case. The matter was adjourned  to Friday  for further defence by the  Electoral  Body.