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Some protesters believed to be supporters of the African Action Congress (AAC), All Progressives Congress (APC) and members of civil society on Monday protested against the suspension of Saturday’s governorship election in Rivers State, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias.
The protesters, who were mainly youths, took over the GRA junction axis of Aba Road in Port Harcourt, chanting songs of solidarity in the presence of military personnel blocking off the section of Aba Road.
The protesters also demanded the prosecution of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in the state, Obo Effanga, for being partisan and failing to release the results of the exercise.
Speaking for the group of protesters, Dr Omenazu Jackson, Chancellor, International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, stated that the failure of the Rivers REC to declare the just concluded governorship and House of Assembly elections, was a flagrant abuse of the electoral act and the constitution of Nigeria.
Omenazu further explained that the spate of violence in the state in recent times was alarming and should be discouraged, adding that there was need for peace to reign in the area.
He said: “We are demanding that INEC should as a matter of urgency and for the sake of peace in the state, release the results of the elections.
“We have seen and observed that the present INEC leadership in Rivers State is partisan and when an umpire becomes partisan, then it sends a dangerous signal to the entire society.
“We call on INEC’s National Chairman (Professor Mahmood Yakubu), as a matter of urgency to order the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Obo Effanga, to release the results of the governorship and House of Assembly elections.”
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