Nigerian Army Rejects INEC’s Report On Rivers Poll

RIVERS - The Nigerian Army has expressed shock over its indictment by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the crisis that led to the suspension of the governorship and state house of assembly elections in Rivers State.

The Army picked holes in the statement signed by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye Esq on 15 March 2019 indicting the Army on it performance during the election.

In a statement signed by Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, Deputy Director Army Public Relations of the 6 Division, the army said its inputs and submissions to the INEC fact-finding committee were no reflected in its final report.

According to the Army, its representatives met with the INEC Fact-Finding Committee on Tuesday 12 March 2019 at the INEC Headquarters in Port Harcourt and had honest discussions and made a written submission to aid the Committee in its task.

“Regrettably, none of the Division’s input form any of the findings of INEC was made public. This clearly indicates lack of trust by an institution that the NA sacrifices so much to assist in the course of performing their role.”

“What INEC failed to mention or even consider is the fact that at about 10:30 pm on Saturday 9th March 2019, troops of 6 Division NA detailed at the outer perimeter of Obio/Akpor Local Government Headquarters Collation Center were brazenly attacked by Governor Wike’s security aides and armed thugs who stormed the collation center with the Governor in a convoy of more than 50 vehicles while collation of results was going on.

“In the ensuing melee, Captain Adams Salami was shot at close range by the security aides of Governor Wike while Corporal Adeosun Adebayo was macheted by Governor Wike’s thugs. Both victims are currently receiving treatment at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Intensive Care Unit and Military Hospital Port Harcourt respectively with life threatening injuries. 

"Thereafter, election materials were carted away and electoral officials abducted by the Governor’s thugs to an unknown destination. This was made known to the INEC Fact-Finding Committee but INEC does not see it worth condemning or mention in its report.”