THE Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission not to throw the state into another round of crisis.
The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, issued this warning on Tuesday while reacting to a statement by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, affirming the controversial result of Tai Local Government Area in the March 19 rerun of elections into the state House of Assembly.
Nwanosike warned that any attempt to impose the result of Tai LGA on the people of the state by the REC could lead to another crisis in the state.
He stated that there was a court order that had restrained INEC and its REC from announcing the result of the LGA in favour of any of the parties until the interlocutory injunction on the result was vacated.
He, however, called on President Muhhammadu Buhari to call INEC and the REC to order and advise them to conduct themselves in line with the rule of law.
“Ikoiwak should be patient to vacate the law before coming to affirm the result. He should please not throw Rivers State into crisis once again.
“The recent comment this morning that he was affirming the result of Tai election meant that he was trying to cause a very serious security crisis in the state if not called to order.
“I want to let the public know that we are in a democracy. Even INEC was created by the constitution. Its activities are guided by the Electoral Act, Justice A. M. Leeman stated it clearly that until this interlocutory order is vacated, the result of Tai LGA election should not be declared in favour of any party.”
“I am bringing to the attention of the President, who has recently said change should begin with us, that he should call Elder Ikoiwak to order and that he should conduct himself in accordance with our law.
“He should go to the court and vacate the order on the result before coming to comment and uphold to result.”
PUNCH
