The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for its effective management of the recent Local Government Council elections in Rivers State.
The party expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the elections, while also condemning the burning of a factional APC secretariat in the state, calling it a “barbaric” act.
Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Chief Emeka Beke, spoke after casting his vote at Rumuaokpasi Hall, Ward 3, Unit 4, in Elibrada Community, Emohua Local Government Area.
He praised the election’s smooth execution and noted the absence of security personnel at polling stations, saying it did not negatively impact the electoral process.
Beke stated, “Election is going on peacefully without security men, but the election is calm. This election decides who governs the people at the grassroots level. The election went well without crisis. I expect that it will be peaceful in other parts of the state.
“The absence of policemen is not hurting the election at all. If elections are conducted where there are no security men, people will conduct themselves very well. The turnout is okay.”
He also distanced himself and the APC from the recent burning of the factional office led by Chief Tony Okocha, clarifying that his party was not involved in the incident.
“I saw the information on social media. I am not the type of character that is involved in such. Anybody who had done that I condemn it. It is not in my character and I will never be part of that. That is not the best way to handle issues,” Beke said.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Prince Charles Beke, praised RSIEC’s organization, stating that voting in his unit had been orderly and without incident.
He said: “The elections are peaceful in this unit. Voting started early and it has been peaceful. We don’t have any crisis. We want the public to know that the local government election in Rivers State is fair and people are working to cast their vote and vote in a proper local government chairman and councillors.”
“In other local government elections we have had in the past, we discover that in every community there have always been clashes. But the way this one is going on it shows that RSIEC is grounded to do what they have done. All material came in on time.”
The Chairmanship Candidate of the Action Peoples Party (APP) in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Barrister Israel Abosi, also praised RSIEC’s efforts.
After casting his vote at Unit 3, Ward 6 in Elele Town, Abosi rated RSIEC’s performance at 95%, noting that the electoral body had exceeded expectations.
Abosi commented: “In this history of election in this state, what we see today is surprising. Ikwerre Local government has always been seen as a battlefield when it comes to elections but today, the experience was good. Everyone was peaceful and calm.
“RSIEC met the expectations of the people. The election started as when due. From what I have seen I can score them 95%. They have done well.”