Tomorrow’s rerun polls in Rivers
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed tomorrow Saturday for election reruns in 1,840 polling units across the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. Up for election are three Senators and 13 members of the House of Representatives. The Senate had passed a resolution urging INEC to as a matter of national urgency ensure […]
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed tomorrow Saturday for election reruns in 1,840 polling units across the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. Up for election are three Senators and 13 members of the House of Representatives. The Senate had passed a resolution urging INEC to as a matter of national urgency ensure that all polls that are outstanding from the 2015 general elections are concluded by December. The Senate was incensed by the absence for almost a whole legislative year of all three Senators and 13 members of the House representing Rivers State.
Tomorrow’s rerun polls are taking place in an atmosphere mildly described as tense, given the build-up to the exercise. Beyond the traditional rivalry between the candidates of the various parties is the more pronounced show of animosity which some of the principal actors in the exercise have betrayed. Of note has been the openly provocative comments by Governor of the Rivers State Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in which he has been alleging foul play by the police and INEC officials. Leaders of the main opposition party in the state, All Progressives Congress (APC) have also not been restrained in their utterances. This situation has not helped matters as it has set the state in a war mood.
Yet the exercise is supposed to be a simple one of allowing the electorate to choose who will represent them in the federal legislature. By the sabre-rattling posture of the various leaders of the parties, they seem to demonstrate scant regard for the overall interest of the people they are expected to lead. While they should be promoting the popularity of their candidates, they are priming their supporters for a blood bath. This is most unfair and unbecoming. The elections scheduled for tomorrow should have been held on two previous occasions but were repeatedly postponed due to the fear that violence would erupt and mar the exercise. Outbreak of violence in previous elections which led to avoidable deaths rendered Rivers State a terrain in which INEC demanded assurance from security agencies before further polls can be conducted there.
That is why it behoves the leaders of Rivers State to strive to change the game in respect of tomorrow’s polls. One major reason why the leaders of the state need to rethink on the need for ensuring that tomorrow’s polls run successfully is the unquantifiable loss which Rivers State has suffered due to the absence of its representatives in the National Assembly. Another is the fact that the state has come to stand maybe undeservedly as the icon of electoral violence in the country.
It is therefore in the context of the foregoing that all parties saddled with the onerous responsibility for tomorrow’s polls should appreciate the premium the country places on the exercise. As the electoral umpire, INEC should consider itself as the first victim if anything goes wrong. In particular its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak should recognise the enormous challenge on his shoulder to ensure a free and fair election. Just as well is Governor Wike, who is expected to provide a level playing ground as the chief security officer. As the governor, his partisan loyalties are not expected to becloud his sense of responsibility to ensure that elections are conducted peacefully and the people’s wish at the polls prevails.
The various candidates in the election should also advise their supporters not to sabotage the polls with acts that may lead to another postponement. Finally this is to advise all contesting candidates to accept the result of the polls in order that the state can move forward beyond its present state of political stagnation.