The Rivers State Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has come under commendations in Saturday’s local government election as the All Progressives Congress (APC) has scored the state electoral body high in the conduct of the poll in the state.
The party also condemned the burning of the factional secretariat of the party in the state, describing it as barbaric.
Chairman of APC in the state, Chief Emeka Beke, who spoke after casting his vote at Rumuaokpasi Hall, Ward 3, unit 4, Elibrada Community in Emohua LGA, said the election was well coordinated.
Emeka Beke said: “Election is going on peacefully without security men, but the election is calm. This election decides who governs the people at the grassroots level. The election went well without crisis. I expect that it will be peaceful in other parts of the state.
“The absence of policemen is not hurting the election at all. If elections are conducted where there are no security men, people will conduct themselves very well. The turnout is okay.”
He condemned the burning of Chief Tony Okocha’s factional office, distancing APC members from the state of the act.
Beke said: “I saw the information on social media. I am not the type of character that is involved in such. Anybody who had done that I condemn it. It is not in my character and I will never be part of that. That is not the best way to handle issues.”
Also, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs in the state, Prince Charles Beke, who spoke after casting his vote commended RSIEC for the well-organized process.
He said: “The elections are peaceful in this unit. Voting started early and it has been peaceful. We don’t have any crisis. We want the public to know that the local government election in Rivers State is fair and people are working to cast their vote and vote in a proper local government chairman and councillors.
“In other local government elections we have had in the past, we discover that in every community there have always been clashes. But the way this one is going on it shows that RSIEC is grounded to do what they have done. All material came in on time.”
Meanwhile, the Chairmanship Candidate of the Action Peoples Party, APP, in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Barr Israel Abosi, scored the state’s electoral umpire 95%, adding that they have surpassed the people’s expectations.
Unit3 Ward 6, Elele
Abosi who spoke after casting his vote at Unit 3, Ward 6 Elele Town, Ikwerre LGA, said: “In this history of election in this state, what we see today is surprising. Ikwerre Local government has always been seen as a battlefield when it comes to elections but today, the experience was good. Everyone was peaceful and calm.
“RSIEC met the expectations of the people. The election started as when due. From what I have seen I can score them 95%. They have done well.”
