INEC Accused Of Giving Wike Pre-Dated Certificate Of Returns

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of issuing pre-election certificates of return to Governor Nyesom Wike and others elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State.

It came to light on Thursday that the certificates of return issued to the PDP winners of the State House of Assembly election was prepared before the conclusion of the election. The revelation brought to light claims by the All Progressives Congress, APC that INEC was largely biased in favour of the PDP.

The date on the certificate issued to Nyesom Wike could not be immediately confirmed. But that issued to some others including Blessing Pepple, representing Bonny State Constituency bore the date March 14. The election in the state which commenced on March 9 was suspended on March 10 while collation started on April 2.

A chieftain of the APC, Chukwuemeka Eze who circulated the certificates to newshounds in Port Harcourt on Thursday, said the development confirmed his claim earlier in March that the commission was prepared to rig the election in favour of the PDP.

“On 30th March, 2019, I issued a statement titled, “Rivers Poll: Eze Accuses INEC Of printing Gov. Wike’s Certificate Of Return In Advance” and on the same date INEC issued their own statement titled, “INEC Denies Fake Certificate of Returns in Rivers” 

“Affirming my accusation that INEC never meant any good for the people of Rivers state and democracy in Nigeria, the Commission went “

It is sad and unfortunate that after all the cries and protests by some well meaning citizens of Rivers state, including some of our statesmen, exposing the bias and partiality of the leadership of the INEC to subvert the will of Rivers people, the commission is hellbent and determined to carry out her devious plots. It has eventually come to light, in this untidy business of forged Certificates of Return, that INEC is a slave to corruption in Rivers state.

“In carrying out her sinister plot the commission printed Certificates of Return in favour of Governor Nyesom Wike and other PDP candidates, even before the conclusion of her manipulated process. 

“Although INEC stated in her 30th March statement that the INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu, denied the news that the Certificate of Return posted on social media was not printed by him because INEC was yet to announce the results as collation was suspended, the Certificates of Return issued to Wike and others bear the same date, but the governorship and House of Assembly elections were formerly collated and announced by Inec from 3rd to 4th of April. 

“But on 16th April, INEC shamelessly, through the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obong Effanga, issued Certificates of Return printed on 14th March to Governor Wike and the 32 members of Rivers State House of Assembly, affirming my stand that the Rivers state election results announced by INEC was not only charade, but a mischievous act that can’t stand and supported by any lover of democracy”, he said.

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG