A group of Ijaw youths under the auspices of ‘Ijaw Nation’ has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Rivers State governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, winner of the March 9 election in the state.
The group’s spokesman, Chief Anabs Sara Igbe, who spoke in Port Harcourt at the weekend, urged INEC to be truly independent as enshrined in the constitution by announcing the winner of the governorship election in the state.
He said the election was held across the state’s 23 council areas and that the results released so far by INEC showed that Awara was leading his opponent, Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said: “We had an election and it was marred by controversy and as a people of Ijaw extraction, we have a voice, and it will be better we discuss it so that we will have an in-depth feeling of the average Ijaw men and women as regards this matter. Election was held and from results so far released, it was very clear that Biokpomabo Awara of Africa Action Congress (AAC) was leading and coasting home to victory like the biblical David and Goliath, but all of a sudden, we were told that the process had been put on hold.
“In other states, they have released the results, but in the case of Rivers, what we are hearing are stories of filling result sheets from Government House, parties are announcing results contrary to the Electoral Act. “As people of Ijaw extraction, I have decided to inform the world and Nigeria as a whole that I am one of those who insisted that governorship of Rivers State should come from upland.
“I was among those who insisted on former Governors Peter Odili’s and Rotimi Amaechi’s coming to power. We did not see any part of Rivers State as different, because we are all brothers and sisters, but for over 20 years, an ethnic group decided to hold on to power.
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