Of Appointments, Contracts
The state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged INEC to be more than ever, an unbiased umpire in the electoral process and refuse to bow to internal and external pressures to alter results in favour of any contestant or political party.
The association further charged the commission to strict adhere to the provisions of the electoral regulations and guidelines, uniformity of practice and procedure at all polling units and run a transparent result management to ensure conclusive elections.
While calling for non-interference by the military personnel in the upcoming rerun, CAN called on the Police, as a lead civil security agency, to be more assertive in coordinating with INEC towards maintaining the peace during the elections and deter impunity for violations of electoral regulations and guidelines.
The body of entreated all politicians and political leaders to refrain from unguarded utterances capable of inciting their gullible membership and public against true democratic tenets, saying: “The survival and existence of a viable and peaceful Benue must rank higher and above any other consideration in making the choice of the next governor of Benue State.”
A voter, John Orafaan, from Mbalon Ward in Gwer West Council, where election did not hold due to snatching and burning of electoral materials, told The Guardian that most of the electorate were not eager to come out today to vote because of fear of the unknown.
Orafaan said the people had in recent times witnessed killings and suffered social trauma and might not want to risk their lives in the hands of soldiers again.
There was palpable tension and anxiety among the contending party faithful across communities where election holds today. warned that no one man can handpick a governor for the state
He condemned the violence that characterised the March 9 elections in the state, which he described as a shame, adding that the election was not only an embarrassment to the country, but also unacceptable, even as he wondered why people failed to learn from the past.
He stated that across the country, people tried to vote and to count their votes, but regrettably, in Rivers State, the reverse was the case.
Wike, who described the suspension of the elections as a conspiracy against the people of the state, however, implored the people to remain calm, saying the success of PDP in the election would be a sweet victory in the end, maintaining that the will of Rivers people would prevail. just about going to court, but for INEC to do the right thing.”
He insisted that the party would go to court and seek a redress.
But his APC counterpart, Uba Nana, said: “We went to court to challenge INEC’S reversal on re-run in Tafawa Balewa Council and we got the court order to stop collation. Let us go for re-run, as pronounced by INEC, and I’m very sure we will win the re-run.
“As law abiding citizens, we remain bound by the court order and we urge all our party loyalists, INEC and all affected parties to obey court order and to remain in peace.”
Abdullahi urged the public, especially the people of Tafawa Balewa Council, to be calm and await the outcome of the court ruling.
APC and its candidate, Governor Muhammad Abubakar, are seeking the cancellation of the elections result of the council.
Tafawa Balewa is a PDP stronghold and one of the councils under the constituency of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.