In a statement released by the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, CHRIS FINEBONE, the APC claimed that initial report by INEC was that the election was inconclusive.
FINEBONE said the APC was surprise that the electoral commission went ahead to declare results in favour of PDP candidates.
The APC accused INEC of contradicting itself; adding that the Commission violated its own law that allows on the Returning Officers to declare results and not National Commissioners.
However; the State Chairman of the PDP, FELIX OBUAH praised the people of Etche and Omuma for what he described as their uncommon courage which led to the success of the party in the elections on Saturday.
OBUAH noted that the PDP candidates won the elections in the face of harassment and intimidation by the Army and the Police.
He observed that there was interference by the military and the Nigeria Police Force in the electoral process, which he described as worrisome.
The PDP Chairman particularly cited instances with the arrest of the State Publicity Secretary, SAMUEL NWONOSIKE and three others in Etche.
But another statement released from the PDP-controlled Rivers State Government House contradicted the position of the state leadership of the party in terms of the role played by the security agencies.
The Government House State signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, SIMEON NWAKAUDU, quoted Governor NYESOM WIKE commending the security agencies for their professionalism in the coverage of the elections.
Governor WIKE also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission for redeeming its image through the elections in Omuma and Etche, which his party won.
The Governor maintained that whenever free and fair elections are conducted in Rivers State, the PDP would always win.
According to the Government House statement; Governor WIKE gave the commendations while addressing the congregation of Saint Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Port Harcourt during a thanksgiving service yesterday.
In a similar vein; the 2015 governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State, DAKUKU PETERSIDE, observed that the supplementary elections in Etche and Omuma were flawed.
PETERSIDE accused INEC of compromise in favour of the PDP-controlled Rivers State Government, alleging that electoral officers were forced to do the bidding of Governor NYESOM WIKE.
In a statement of an interview with newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport; the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency wandered why INEC would turn around and announce results after the Returning Officers had declared the polls inconclusive.
He questioned the presence of Governor WIKE in Etche during the election; as well as the role played by some PDP members from outside Etche and Omuma who were arrested by security operatives in the area during the elections.
DAKUKU PETERSIDE noted that the results announced by INEC do not reflect the wishes of the people of Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency and Etche State Constituency Two.
