Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Political occasion leaders and civil society organisations in Rivers State have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate election end result collation centres from native authorities council secretariats to police stations forward of the 2027 normal election, alleging intimidation of opposition brokers and manipulation of outcomes throughout earlier polls.
The stakeholders made the decision in Port Harcourt yesterday, arguing that various collation venues would promote transparency, assure equal entry for political events and restore public confidence within the electoral course of.
Former Labour Party chairman in Rivers State, Favour Reuben, alleged that opposition occasion brokers had been denied entry to collation centres by ruling occasion officers on the native authorities degree throughout earlier elections.
He proposed police stations as various venues, insisting that entry needs to be restricted to duly accredited occasion brokers to forestall interference and guarantee an orderly course of.
The Rivers State Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Ben Ogbugbulam, additionally supported the proposal, urging INEC to contemplate the advice earlier than the 2027 polls.
Similarly, a human rights advocate, Dr Jackson Omenazu, referred to as on the electoral fee to examine the allegations and introduce measures to defend the integrity of the collation course of.
Omenazu pressured that INEC should handle considerations over electoral conduct and be certain that the outcomes declared replicate the votes solid by the voters.
He maintained that safeguarding the pursuits of voters required credible procedures and efficient oversight of the collation course of.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the PILEX Centre, Courage Nsirimovu, urged residents to monitor INEC and its advert hoc workers all through the electoral course of to promote transparency and accountability.
Nsirimovu stated public vigilance was important to making certain that electoral officers carried out their duties in step with established guidelines and procedures.
The stakeholders stated granting political events equal entry to collation centres was vital to stopping disputes and strengthening confidence in election outcomes.
However, their allegations of intimidation and end result manipulation would require unbiased investigation by the related authorities.
As preparations for the 2027 normal elections collect momentum, the stakeholders urged INEC to contemplate sensible measures to handle considerations over the collation course of and guarantee a clear, credible and inclusive electoral train.
