Inec’s Team Probes Alleged Irregularities In Rivers Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission
has set up a three-man committee to investigate
alleged irregularities in the polls conducted in
Rivers State on Saturday.
The committee has as its Head, Mrs. Thelma
Iremirem, who is the Supervisory National
Commissioner for Rivers; and Col. M.K
Hammanga along with Prof. Lai Olurode, as
members.
A statement by the Secretary to the commission,
Augusta Ogakwu, at the National Collation Centre
for the Presidential Election in Abuja on Monday,
was necessitated by the call for the cancellation of
the elections in the state by the All Progressives
Congress.
Ogakwu said members of the committee had left
for a fact-finding mission to the state and were
expected to submit their report before the end of
collation of results of other states and the Federal
Capital Territory.
She said the commission would subsequently
make its decision known after receiving the report
of the fact-finding committee.
So far, INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who is

the Chief Returning Officer of the presidential
election, has so far collated results from eight
states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The statement read, “Further to the allegation
made by the All Progressives Congress on the
conduct of the presidential and National Assembly
elections on Saturday, 28th March, 2015, in Rivers
State and its call for the cancellation of the
exercise, the Independent National Electoral
Commission has set up a fact-finding mission to
ascertain the veracity of the claims and allegations
and to advise the commission and the Chief
Electoral Commissioner/Returning Officer for the
presidential elections.
“The committee of National Electoral
Commissioners comprises comprises the
following:
“I. Mrs. Thelma Iremirem, Head and the
Supervisory National Commissioner for Rivers
State
“II. Col. M.K Hammanga – Member
“IIIm Prof. Lai Olurode – Member.
“They have departed for Rivers State and it is
expected that they will submit their report before
the end of the collation of results of the other
states and the FCT.
“Following the consideration of the report, the
commission will make its decision known.