Despite growing doubts over the conduct of elections in Rivers State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured opposition political parties in the state of free, fair and credible polls in 2027.
Opposition parties in the State, under the aegis of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), had expressed fears over possible electoral violence, alleged political intimidation and INEC’s impartial conduct of the 2027 general elections.
INEC held a strategic engagement with IPAC on Monday in a bid to address these issues, and as part of efforts to promote a peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
The meeting brought together INEC officials and leaders of various political parties in the State and focused on the conduct of the elections and the need for greater collaboration among stakeholders.
Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rivers State, assured the parties that the Commission would conduct elections that are free and fair.
He was responding to concerns raised by political parties, particularly over the use of Local Government Area headquarters, as colation centres during elections.
He said, ‘In all election circles, we expect a better one. Not only in Nigeria, even in other climes of the world. Even we as election managers, we are expecting better elections.
‘All the times it has been free and fair. But it depends on the operators and the people in the field. I always say it: those people in the field, once they play by the rules, we don’t have anything to worry about. For us, we assure you that the commission, from headquarters to the state and to the local government will be free to all political parties,’ he said.
Sinikiem explained that Council headquarters are secured and established places, adding that ‘during colation, we need appropriate places for both accommodation and the security of men and materials and the officers that are doing colation’.
Meanwhile, the State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council has raised concern over what it described as a series of negative political developments in the State.
Ben Ogbobula, IPAC State Secretary and Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party, advised INEC to carefully consider concerns raised by political parties and maintain neutrality in the discharge of its responsibilities.
He said, ‘IPAC is ready for elections. We also told them to be mindful of the colation centres, that other political parties are not happy with what the ruling party is doing. So we urged INEC, to be observant and not to be partial, but to ensure that what is meant for Mr A is also good for Mr B. So that they play a neutral ground in these forthcoming elections.
‘Especially now that a lot of political parties like the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Some days ago, some of its members were arrested for unlawful gathering, though this is election period. People are supposed to gather,’ he said.
Ogbobula alleged that the ruling party in the State has been sending people to burn the offices of opposition political parties, to disorganise their meetings and warned that no political party should be intimidated.
‘So, they should allow people to campaign and sell their manifestos to the people’ he urged.