Collation Of Results Ongoing In Rivers Legislative Rerun

Collation of results is ongoing at various federal and state collation centers for the national and state assembly elections in Rivers State.

Elections are also expected to be concluded in Akuku Toru Local Government Area (LGA) of the state in south-south Nigeria.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had released an interim statement rescheduling the conclusion of the rerun election in 14 units spread across wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Akuku Toru LGA for Sunday from 12 noon.

INEC said it was taking stock of the situation in other local government areas where collation was underway.

Meanwhile, the fall out of the election has triggered reactions from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

While the PDP claimed that the APC in connivance with the military and the police were obstructing the process in their favour, the APC maintained that the presence of the military brought the excesses of many politicians under control.

The PDP spokesman in Rivers State, Samuel Nwanosike, had also alleged that the military and INEC were obstructing the process in Ikwere, Emohua and Andoni LGAs of the state.

In his reaction, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Kasimu Abdulkarim, denied allegations of intimidation, snatching of ballot boxes and killings leveled against the military during the re-run elections.

General Abdulkarim said the claims were not only false, but a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army and wipe public sentiment.

He noted that although the soldiers provided perimeter defence to ward off armed hoodlums and miscreants, the military remained apolitical.