Electoral Act amendment: Wike urges NASS to watch over INEC

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has called on the National Assembly to take a further step on the amendment of the Electoral Act by ensuring that the electoral process is not manipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through the card reader.

He made this statement while speaking during the 60th Birthday Celebration of Senator George Sekibo and the public presentation of six books written by the federal lawmaker in Port Harcourt, on Saturday.

Wike, who lauded the National Assembly for amending the Electoral Act, stressed that, unless measures were taken to protect the electoral process, the national electoral umpire may still manipulate the system to rig in favour of the ruling party.

“The National Assembly should take the amendment of the Electoral Act a step further by ensuring that only votes that emanate from the card reader count.

“Other than that, the electoral umpire (INEC) may manipulate the system to favour the ruling party. We know what they are capable of doing and this should be addressed”, he said.

Governor Wike described the celebrant, Senator Sekibo, Rivers-East Senatorial District, as a dependable politician who placed the interest of the state above all other considerations, noting that the lawmaker always play politics with sincerity of purpose.

In his remarks, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State said Senator Sekibo is a repository of legislative knowledge, while the chairman of the occasion, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu noted that the lawmaker was one of the serious-minds in the Senate.

Others present at the occasion included Senate President Bukola Saraki, represented by Senator Ahmed Lawan, Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, represented by Mr Jones Onyereri.

Responding, Senator George Sekibo said he would continue to work for the development of the country and also assured Governor Wike that the people of Rivers State would always support him for his commitment to the development of the state.