19 March Rivers rerun'll be free, fair —New REC

New Rivers REC, Aniedi Ikoiwak

New Rivers REC, Aniedi Ikoiwak

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

New Rivers REC, Aniedi Ikoiwak
New Rivers REC, Aniedi Ikoiwak

Amid tension over the scheduled rerun election for 19 March, in Rivers State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Aniedi Ikoiwak, Wednesday, assured candidates of all the political parties that the Commission will conduct free and fair and credible elections in the state.

He also assured candidates of providing of providing a level playing field for the rerun election for House of Assembly and the national assembly.

Ikoiwak gave the assurance Wednesday while briefing journalists on the preparedness of the Commission for election.

On the tension the forthcoming election has generated in the state, Ikoiwak cautioned politicians not to heat up the political atmosphere in the state.

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The Commission will conduct election into three senatorial seats, 12 House of Representatives and 22 seats into the House of Assembly.

Ikoiwak said the Commission would soon start a sensitization and awareness campaign to the people of the state.

“I want the people of Rivers State to see this election as pure civil exercise. It is not a do or die affair. It is the duty of the people to elect whosoever they want. No by imposing, but by voting for who they want and INEC would provide the enabling environment. I want to assure them that INEC will provide that enabling environment for them to make that choice. On the election day they have to come out and vote for the candidate of their choice.”

Contrary to the opinion being canvassed in the state by some opinion leaders that the 19 March slated for the election may have exceeded the 60 and 90 days deadline, Ikoiwak dismissed such argument as untrue.

“INEC has the constitutional powers to fix an election on the date it feels convenient and also postpone an election. We will not be disobeying court orders. INEC had fixed the election on 6 February but it is also given the leeway to postpone election to when it feels convenient. So what is happening is a postponement of 6 February election to 19 March, not necessarily going contrary to the Court judgment that stipulated 60 and 90 days.”

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