The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has suspended the Port Harcourt Constituency three bye-election in Rivers State.
A statement to okay.ng by the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Obo Efangha and states that the bye-election was suspended because of widespread violence.
Efangha stated that the Commission, “In accordance with Section 26 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as Amended) suspends the election having reviewed the situation.”
The Rivers State REC said the election started well with materials deployed in time but was marred by violence midway.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, says its notes with sadness how the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, allegedly resorted to large-scale violence across the units and wards of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, during the bye-election.
APC in a statement by its Rivers state Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone said, “it is unfortunate that what should be a mere state constituency bye-election witnessed unprecedented voter intimidation, harassment, vote-buying and shooting activated by the PDP in line with their usual character of rigging elections through killing and maiming of APC members.
“However, it is encouraging that the people of PHALGA 3 State Constituency stood their ground and resisted the intimidation by PDP leaders in the area. It signifies that PDP will no more have its way as was the case in the past years.
“The talk that the APC State Chairman, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree was engaged in any form of activity in the constituency during the election is mere façade created to mask the evil machinations of the PDP during the bye-election.”
