- Raps fact-finding report as deceitful
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Nigerian Army has described as betrayal of trust by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) its report on the suspended Rivers governorship and State Assembly elections held on March 9, 2019
The Army, which frowned at submissions contained in the reports, said it was unfortunate that INEC disparaged its efforts having sacrificed so much to assist the Commission in conducting successful polls in the violence-prone State.
Similarly, the Army expressed regrets at the obvious indifference of the Nigeria Police, urging the Police High Command to immediately “commence full scale investigation of those security aides to Governor Wike that attacked troops at the Obio/Akpor Local Government Headquarters Collation Center and shot at Captain A A Salami with a view to appropriately sanction those found responsible/culpable.”
The Army threatened further that; “Until that is done, Headquarters 6 Division NA will have to review all existing joint activities with the Rivers State Police Command.”
Equally expressing disappointment with the attitude exhibited by the Nigerian Police, the Nigerian Army accused INEC and the Police of turning their back against an organization that sacrificed so much to ensure the smooth conduct of elections in the South-South state.
The Army’s position was contained in a statement by its spokesman, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, faulted the Festus Okoye-led committee’s report, which accused it of undue interference in the election.
Condemning the report for lacking in sincerity, Colonel Iliyasu said that INEC failed to consider the circumstances surrounding the Army’s intervention during the exercise, especially when a comprehensive presentation was made to the Commission’s fact-finding team that visited the state.”
It also described as regrettable that none of the Division’s inputs was part of INEC’s findings that have been made public, noting that the position clearly demonstrates lack of trust by a body that the Nigerian Army sacrifices so much to assist in the course of performing their constitutional duty.
According to the statement; “The Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian Army (NA) has observed with dismay and sense of betrayal in the statement made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye Esq on 15 March 2019.
“It is, however, pertinent to note that, representatives of the 6 Division met with the Fact-Finding Committee on Tuesday 12 March 2019 at the INEC Headquarters in Port Harcourt and had honest discussions and made written submission to aid the Committee in its task.
“Regrettably, none of the Division’s input forms any of the findings of INEC as made public. This clearly indicates lack of trust by an institution that the Nigerian Army sacrifices so much to assist in the course of performing their role.”
On the genesis of the suspension of Governorship/State House of Assembly elections process in Rivers State, the Army said; “What INEC failed to mention or even consider is the fact that at about 10:30 pm on Saturday 9th March 2019, troops of 6 Division NA detailed at the outer perimeter of Obio/Akpor Local Government Headquarters Collation Center were brazenly attacked by Governor Wike’s security aides and armed thugs, who stormed the collation center with the Governor in a convoy of more than 50 vehicles while collation of results was going on. In the ensuing melee, Captain Adams Salami was shot at close range by the security aides of Governor Wike while Corporal Adeosun Adebayo was matcheted by Governor Wike’s thugs.
“Both victims are currently receiving treatment at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPHTH) Intensive Care Unit and Military Hospital Port Harcourt respectively with life-threatening injuries.
“Thereafter, election materials were carted away and electoral officials abducted by the Governor’s thugs to an unknown destination. This was made known to the INEC Fact-Finding Committee, but INEC does not see it worth condemning or mention in its report.
“Consequently, after due consultations and considerations between 6 Division and the Rivers State Police Command on Sunday the 10th of March 2019, the Rivers State Police Command, on their own, – took the initiative to invite the media to the hospitals where the 2 victims are receiving treatment and thereafter to host a press conference on the matter with the view to dissociate itself from the unprofessional conduct exhibited by their men attached to Wike and tell the public what disciplinary action the command will take or is already taking.
“However, while the visit to the victims was accomplished and the 2 victims interviewed by the media, the press conference was aborted by the Police after journalists have been assembled.
“Coincidentally, a re-scheduled press conference on the matter was also aborted on Thursday, the 14th of March 2019. Most disheartening is that while the Rivers State Police Command accepts the involvement of their personnel in the attack at Obio/Akpor LG Headquarters, till date those personnel have not at least been reprimanded.”
The statement said the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, as a stakeholder in the 2019 General Elections, takes exception to the lopsided and unfair INEC report and therefore strongly reject the findings in its entirety.
