Controversy is brewing in Rivers State over the conduct of last Saturday�s election into the Okrika/Ogu Bolo Federal Constituency and Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1 by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Beyond the low turnout of voters, which greeted the poll, the INEC committed a major blunder by using the paper meant for the Rivers State House of Assembly election in Ahoada West for the rescheduled House of Representatives election in Okrika/Ogu Bolo Federal Constituency.
In Port Harcourt, the name of the African Political System candidate for the Federal House, Mr. Rogers Nda, was absent from the ballot papers used for the election, making it impossible for its supporters to cast their votes for the party and its candidate.
The APS candidate said on Sunday that he was shocked by the development and that he would seek redress at the relevant avenue to claim his mandate.
On his own part, the All Nigeria Peoples Party candidate in Okrika/Ogu Bolo, Mr. Emmanuel Ngere Rowland, described as unbelievable the use of the ballot paper which was meant for the April 14, 2007 House of Assembly election in Ahaoda West for his constituency.
Rowland said that he was shocked that even though he brought the matter to the attention of the INEC Electoral Officer for the area, there was no response from the commission.
Rowland called for the cancellation of the election and the conduct of a fresh one with the proper names of the political parties and their candidates so that the right candidates could be elected to represent the people.
Meanwhile, the Action Congress in the state, on Sunday condemned INEC for its unwillingness to refrain from fraudulent practices in the conduct of elections.
A statement by the AC made available to journalists, alleged that INEC connived with other agencies to rig the election in favour of a particular party in the state, as it did in the previous elections.
The party said, �The conduct of the postponed Federal House of Representatives and Senatorial elections in Rivers State has once again exposed INEC and its unholy marriage with PDP solely contracted to perpetuate electoral malpractices in the state all in an attempt to install unpopular candidates on our people.�
But the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Chief Rowland Uwa, said on the phone that the commission did its best in conducting last Saturday�s election and should be praised rather than being condemned.
Uwa said that there were avenues for those dissatisfied with the conduct of the elections to seek redress.