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The Action Congress
of Nigeria ( ACN) and other opposition parties in Rivers State have
criticised the conduct of Saturday’s National Assembly elections in the
state, calling for the cancellation of the poll.

The results of the
election released by the Independent National Electoral Commission on
Sunday showed the Peoples Democratic Party was victorious in all 12
federal constituencies and the three Senatorial districts where
elections were held.

The ACN, however, claims the victory was earned through voter manipulation and rigging.

“In the collation
centres, our agents were refused entry by the Joint Task Force and the
Police. There were no results sheets in many areas of the state, such
as Khana, Degema, Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo, Obio/Akpor, Opobo/Nkoro, Onelga,
Andoni,” read the ACN statement, which was signed by Uche Okwukwu, the
state chairman of the party.

Similarly, Otonye
Briggs, the governorship candidate of the Congress for Political
Change, yesterday expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the
elections.

Mr Briggs said his
party was denied an opportunity to fully participate in the process as
there was no level playing field for political parties in the state.

He also accused
loyalists of the ruling PDP of intimidating and harassing CPC members
and supporters. In the course of the elections, he said, one of the
party’s members was killed in Abonnema, the capital of Akuku-Toru Local
Government Area.

Mr Briggs added
that the killing was the manifestation of acts of repression against
the party in the state. He, however, urged supporters of the party to
come out en masse for subsequent elections and vote for the CPC.

Barthlomew
Emuekperi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance also said his party
has problems with the elections. “No doubt, the elections were bad,” he
said when asked about his party’s reaction to the conduct and outcome
of the polls.

Mr Emuekperi said the party will be issuing an official statement on the elections.

No petitions

Despite the
complaints, none of the parties could confirm if they had written an
official petition to INEC. As at press time, neither the Resident
Electoral Commissioner, Aniedi Ikoiwak nor the Public Affairs Officer
of the Commission could be reached for comments on the matter.

The director of the Rotimi Amaechi campaign organisation, Ezebunwo
Nyesom Wike, said the allegations were false and challenged the
opposition to provide proof to back their claims.