The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has lauded the Rivers State electorate for defending their votes despite the violence and snatching of electoral materials allegedly perpetuated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during Saturday’s suspended by-election for Port Harcourt Constituency 3 in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The APC, which reacted yesterday through its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena, condemned the violence and the attempt to rig the by-election.
The party called on the Rivers State electorate and all Nigerians to continue to stand their ground and resist any attempt to rig elections in the country.
“Nigerians will recall how the PDP, speaking through its national spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, last Tuesday vowed to deploy all ‘means, schemes, shenanigans in all ramification and magnitude’ to rig all coming elections.
“Votes must count; the people’s will must prevail in all elections.
“We reiterate that the PDP’s now public rigging plans are a red flag that require urgent attention by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies,” Nabena said.
INEC had suspended the by-election for the Port Harcourt Constituency lll State Assembly seat held Aug. 18.
Mr Obo Effanga, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers, who announced the suspension in a terse statement on Saturday night, cited widespread violence as reason for the suspension.
The by-election was conducted by INEC to fill the vacancy left by former state assemblyman, Mr Victor Ihunwo, now Chairman, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
Effanga stated that because the exercise was marred by widespread violence, it was suspended in accordance with Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010.
