Rivers LG polls is shame to democracy, no election took place – AAC says

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The African Action Congress (AAC) has called for the scraping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) across the country, saying that the election conducted at the weekend in Rivers State by the State electoral commission was a shame to democracy as no election took place in the state.

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Sylvester Cletus, AAC said the outcome of the Rivers local government election is a big embarrassment to Nigeria democracy.

While calling for its outright cancellation and re-conduct of the exercise, the party condemned what is described as ‘brigandage’ that it alleged took place during the polls with ballot snatching, thuggery, late arrival of electoral materials, over militarization, as part of the un-endearing traits that highlighted the polls.

The statement by the AAC said “Particularly, the party came hard on Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that with the charade that took place in Rivers, both entities have demonstrated clearly that they are against democracy in Nigeria.

“The African Action Congress, AAC , calls for the immediate scrapping of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) and other State Electoral Commissions across the 36 States of the Country. The party maintains that if these State Electoral Commissions are not scrapped, democracy will continue to remain elusive in the country.

“The objective of such Electoral Institutions has never been to act as State apparatus of mischief in  scuttling, intimidating  and disfranchising eligible voters in exercising their legitimate fundamental rights as enshrined by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is very clear that these State Electoral Commissions have outlived their usefulness and the RSIEC shoddy performance and bias clearly have shown they are not needed any more.

“Its pertinent  to restate categorically that RSIEC  performed woefully with PDP subverting the will of the people in the Local Government Elections in Rivers State held on 17th April, 2021.

“The State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs, by design, is expected to work with, and regulate activities of all Political Parties ensuring no Electoral rules and regulations are violated with conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive polls but contrary to upholding this, the Electoral Commissions completely have ostracized, subdued and emasculated political parties in the States aided and sponsored by the ruling Parties in the States”.

ACC therefore called on the Federal Government to scrap such State Independent  Electoral Commissions as it has totally lost credibility and neutrality  and have instead enthroned electoral fraud.