Rivers by-election: AA candidate petitions INEC, IG

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The candidate of the Action Alliance in Saturday’s Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election, Dr Douglas Fabeke, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, alleging widespread irregularities during the poll.

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Fabeke, who had earlier rejected the outcome of the election after INEC declared the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Olaka Nwogu, winner, called for an independent investigation into the conduct of some electoral officials and security personnel.

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In the petition dated June 22 and titled, “Complaint against alleged electoral misconduct, violence, intimidation, collusion and irregularities during Rivers South-East Senatorial District bye-election and demand for investigation,” Fabeke alleged voter suppression, intimidation, violence, vote-buying and manipulation of electoral materials across the district.

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He claimed that reports from his agents indicated that in some polling units, particularly in Bomu, Gokana Local Government Area, presiding officers failed to properly count votes recorded during the election.

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Fabeke further alleged that some INEC officials and electoral materials were moved to a hotel where ballot papers belonging to the Action Alliance were removed and destroyed.

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He also alleged that in Bomu Ward 2, some electoral officials were offered N50,000 by PDP agents, while threats were allegedly issued against officials who refused to cooperate.

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“In Bomu Ward 2, it was reported that some INEC officials were allegedly offered cash inducements of Fifty Thousand Naira (₦50,000) by PDP agents, with threats allegedly issued against officials who refused to cooperate.

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“Across the Senatorial District, particularly in Khana Local Government Area, reports indicate that vote buying occurred extensively.

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“It was alleged that some voters were offered cash payments of ₦5,000 and ₦1,000, respectively, in exchange for voting for the PDP,” the AA candidate stated.

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According to him, agents of the PDP also distributed money to voters in polling units across Oyigbo Local Government Area, leading to the disruption and cancellation of voting in Unit 5, Ward 10.

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“Due to the severity of these incidents, voting activities were reportedly disrupted and cancelled in Unit 5, Ward 10, Oyigbo Local Government Area,” he stated.

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Fabeke alleged that malfunctioning Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines disenfranchised some registered voters, while figures of accredited voters were allegedly reduced in certain polling units.

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He added, “There are allegations that in some polling units, INEC officials and other persons allegedly interfered with the voting process by manually thumb-printing ballot papers, inflating figures and altering results in favour of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.”

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The AA candidate further accused some security personnel of failing to stop acts of intimidation and electoral misconduct during the exercise.

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“Being the Action Alliance candidate for the Rivers South East Senatorial District Bye-Election, I hereby reject the result announced by INEC, as the process that produced the declared result was allegedly compromised by widespread irregularities, violence, intimidation, voter suppression and manipulation,” he stated.

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Fabeke said the alleged incidents raised concerns about compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

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He called for a comprehensive investigation into the conduct of the election and requested the preservation and examination of all electoral materials, including ballot papers, result sheets, BVAS records and electronic transmission records.

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He also asked INEC to declare him the rightful winner of the election.

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