Rivers women protest at INEC, demand credible election

Tina Amanda

Women in Rivers State have staged a protest walk to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Head Office, Port Harcourt, to urge INEC to conduct a free and fair election in the coming March 18, 2023, governorship and State Assembly poll.

The women in their black attire with various placards inscriptions are asking INEC not to allow the mistakes of the February 25, 2023, presidential election, where election results were not uploaded from polling units, and original results sheets were not seen repeated.

Some of the women who spoke to our Correspondent at the INEC office, said they have resolved to come out in mass on Saturday with their cooking pots and mat. They are ready to sleep with INEC officials in every polling unit should they fail to upload results from polling units.

The aggrieved Rivers women warned against any attempt by INEC officials to choose who should govern the state or try to help rig the elections for a political party, just as they threatened that such INEC official would live to regret his or her action on 18 Saturday and beyond.

They demand a credible, free, and fair election, stressing that their vote must count on the March 18 governorship election. Noting that they are fighting to protect their future and that of their unborn children.

They, however, express their displeasure over the conduct of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections while calling on INEC to abide by the electoral act

On her part, one of the Famous Big Brother Naija Actress, Anita Natasha, who handed over the protest letter to the official of INEC, said their demand is for INEC to do the right thing in the forthcoming elections for the interest of their children and unborn children.

Receiving the Protest letter on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Rivers State, the Public Affairs Officer, Geraldine Ekelemu, assured the women that INEC would pay attention to all the complaints and requested the women go back to educate their children to avoid electoral violence.

“I must commend you for this effort. Basically, we have seen the inscriptions on your placards, and we have taken note of them; we also believe that some of it are reflected in the letter you handed over today. Am assuring you I will deliver the letter to the commissioner.

“Concerning some of the things you raised here this morning, we assure you that your vote will be counted, and results will be uploaded. The commission has worked on whatever hitches we had at the presidential election.

“We are appealing you come out in mass and cast your vote, as you have also said this morning that you are going to wait until your vote is counted; please make sure you do that. Let the key players keep an enabling environment, so you would wait to see your votes counted because once violence is introduced, you will need to save your head first, however, your concerns have been noted”.