Some Labour Party candidates who lost in the recent local government elections in Rivers State have spoken out against the N5m security bond required by the tribunal to challenge the results.
The candidates also claim that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has not given out official result sheets, making it difficult for them to file their petitions.
The LP chairmanship candidate for Bonny LGA, Dr. Preye Tonye, called the bond “illegal” and a planned move to stop justice.
He said, “The placement of an illegal N5m security bond by the Rivers State Tribunal is a total denial of citizens’ justice.”
“RSIEC’s refusal to release result sheets for Bonny LGA, despite initial declarations, is delaying our challenge of the kangaroo declaration of the APC candidate, Abiye Blessing Pepple. I am asking the tribunal to direct RSIEC to declare me the winner and issue my Certificate of Return.”
Similarly, the LP chairmanship candidate for Emuoha LGA, Ngozi Miller, said the bond was meant to stop less wealthy candidates.
“The electoral tribunal’s requirement of a N5m bond is alarming and unacceptable. It effectively disenfranchises candidates who cannot afford it, denying them access to justice. Seeking redress is our constitutional right, and such a hefty bond undermines that right,” he said.
The LP candidate for Degema LGA, Isoboye Harry, accused RSIEC of embarrassing democracy by not releasing the results.
“Seventeen political parties contested this election. Where are the results? You announced your winner, but who came second or third? People voted for us, but RSIEC is refusing to release the records. It is shameful. No exam is written without results being released,” Harry said.
However, RSIEC has denied these claims.
The RSIEC’s Commissioner in Charge of Political Parties Affairs, Monitoring and Security, Prof. Godfrey Woke, said that results were given out at polling units and all candidates received copies.
“Results were released at the polling units, and each candidate got copies. That is the truth. In Ahoada West, for instance, only the original sheet was taken, but duplicates were given to all candidates. If they want the collated and signed tabulated results, they should apply to the commission,” he explained.
Woke also said that the polling unit result sheets are enough for filing cases at the tribunal.
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