By Jimitota Onoyume

Political parties and their supporters have remained divided over the nature of   the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

For the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the   elections held in places were results were released while for   the All Progressive Congress,   APC and other aggrieved parties there was no election in the state.

They alleged that the exercise was characterized by massive electoral fraud, snatching of ballot papers and reported connivance between security agencies and   the Independent Electoral Commission,   INEC to rig the elections in favour of the PDP.

One area all political parties, security agencies and election   observers were united against   was the level of violence recorded during the controversial polls.

In Buguma, headquarters of Asari Toru local government area,   the House of the Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, Mrs Joeba West was razed down in the early hours of the   election day   while an INEC office in the area was also burnt by suspected political thugs on the election day.

A bus was among items razed down by hoodlums. Two persons were allegedly shot dead that Saturday.   A community source gave the name of one of those  killed as Imina.

President Kalabari Youth,   Mr Livingston Memberi told Vanguard that the shooting by political thugs forced residents to remain indoors for several hours on Election Day, adding that people came out after soldiers had moved in to restore normalcy.

Caretaker Committee Chairman of the local government area, Mr Flag Amachree of the APC said elections could not hold in the local government because of the violence but a chieftain of the PDP from the area, Mr Opunabo Tariah said the exercise went on smoothly.

Wike and Peterside

In Akuku Toru local government area there were reported cases of gun fire on the eve of the election. As usual, the PDP maintained there was election but the APC and some other parties said it  did not hold.

Senator Magnus Abe who represents Rivers South East senatorial district and chieftain of the APC told newsmen that election did not hold in several parts of Ogoni but the Minister of State for Industry, Mr Keneth Kobani, a prominent member of the PDP dismissed the claim by Senator Abe as untrue, stressing that the exercise went on smoothly in Gokhana and several other parts of Ogoni.

In Obia Akpor local government area, there were reported incidents of shooting in Ozuoba, Rumuomasi and a few other parts but peace later returned to the areas.

Leader of the APC in Obio Akpor local government area, Chief Tony Okocha at about 6 am on the election day   told newsmen in   Obio Akpor local government area that result sheets for nine wards in the local government   were missing.

According to him, they were replaced in with cloned result sheets.

Continuing,   he said he directed all members of the party to only vote when they saw the authentic result sheets, adding that he also complained to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dame Gecilia Khan.

“Our people will go and vote but they should counter sign result sheets if we must vote.

Amaechi‘s phone number allegedly cloned

Governor Chibuike Amaechi raised alarm that Saturday morning that his   phone number had been   cloned, alleging that those behind it sent  text messages to APC members not to participate in the election exercise.

Given the developments it was not surprising that the governor described the whole process as a sham.

Don take Amaechi serious – Wike

Barrister Nyesom Wike of the PDP who spoke on the day of the election    dismissed allegations by governor Chibuike Amaechi that the election was a sham.

Wike who said the governor should not be taken seriously urged politicians in the state to emulate President Goodluck Jonathan who conceded defeat in the last presidential election.

“Which election has he (Amaechi) not described as a sham.   He dismissed the presidential election as a sham but when Buhari won, did he not say it was an act of God”, he said.

Wike who was later declared winner of the guber poll said the election was postponed in ward 15 and 16 of his Obio Akpor local government by INEC, adding that it went on smoothly in all other part of the local government council.

“We should emulate Mr President who conceded defeat for the peace of the nation. They have turns Rivers state to the national headquarters of their party”.

Parties call for cancellation

Meantime, the APC, APGA, SDP and Independent Democrat have all called for cancellation of the elections,   saying it was characterized by violence , snatching of ballot papers and massive rigging.

Chairman Independent Democrats, in the state, Pastor Ihunwo Anthony alleged that there were several cases of election irregularities.

Ihunwo who also contested the House of Assembly seat for Obio Akpor constituency 11 said election did not hold in Ward 12 and 13, alleging   that the exercise was disrupted by thugs who shot for several hours.

“The whole of Eneka clan which is 60 per cent of wards 14, 15 and 16, there was no House of Assembly elections. How then did PDP come out with the outrageous result that INEC announced?