The governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Sobomabo Jackrich, has rejected Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections and announced his withdrawal from the rescheduled polls in some local government areas.
Jackrich, who described the last polls as a mirage, said the exercise was characterized by widespread irregularities and it was short of the minimum standard of an acceptable election.
He continued that irregularities were recorded prevalently in LGAs such as Degema, Eleme, PHALGA, Oyigbo, Ahoada East, Emouha, Ikwerre LGA, Etche, Omuma, Khana, Obio/Akpor, Abonnema in Akuku Toru and Okirika.
According to him, in Asari Toru LGA and some parts of Degema and Khana LGAs, elections were suspended due to the failure of INEC to deliver the right materials and/or the refusal of INEC officials to show up for the election.
Jackrich declared: “This election falls short of the minimum standard of an acceptable election. I hereby reject the outcome of the elections so far and decline from continuing in the process.
“I urge all supporters of the NRM to boycott the Asari Toru, Khana, and Degema rescheduled elections as it only means participating in a futile adventure that has been rigged before time by the INEC, working with PDP in Rivers State, and aided by the Security agencies.”
The NRM governorship candidate alleged that the widespread irregularities were aided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies in connivance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.
