Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says that those who burnt the
Bori office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are
the same politicians who wrote to INEC seeking postponement of the rerun
elections on the ground of security.
Addressing journalists after inspecting the burnt section of INEC Khana
Local Government Office in Bori, Governor Wike said the arson should
not serve as an excuse for the elections to the postponed.
The governor regretted that politicians who are
afraid of the rerun elections would go to the extent of burning down
public facility to convince INEC that the rerun elections should be
shifted.
He noted that no election materials have been deposited at the office,
pointing out that the burnt section only serve as a hall for collation
He said: “Those who burnt this office were not ready for the elections.
They don’t want INEC to conduct the elections because they know that
they don’t have the chances of winning.
“They want to use the issue of security to justify the request for
postponement. If not, INEC has not brought election materials to
this office. What they have done is to scare INEC. “
He added: “For us, we are not surprised. We know this is what they have
planned to do.”
He advised INEC not to be deterred by the arson. He noted that the
commission should go ahead with the elections as scheduled.
The governor directed the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators
of the crime. He advised politicians not to see elections as a do or
die affair, saying that they must submit themselves to the will of the
people.
He said: “We will make sure that this does not dampen the spirit of
INEC. I have directed the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Local
Government Area to immediately rebuild the burnt office”.
The governor said that the state government will provide an
alternative office for INEC to conduct the July 30 elections in the
area. He said the people have been duly mobilised and they are ready
to cast their votes.
Earlier, the Khana Divisional Police Officer, Stephen Okunade said
there was no security at the INEC office at the time of the arson.
He said the lone private security guard was absent when the
perpetrators struck.
He added that the private guard who has been detained only returned
while the office was burning.
The governor was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Commissioner of
Police, Mr Uche Anozie and top government functionaries.
