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By-election: AA candidate in Rivers heads to court, alleges INEC misconduct

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Senatorial candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in the just concluded Rivers South East by election, in Rivers State, Douglas Fabeke, said he will legally challenge the outcome of the election, citing multiple irregularities that he said undermined the credibility of the poll.

Fabeke said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed in several key areas that are critical to a free and fair election.

He alleged that INEC did not provide result sheets at many polling units, relocated electoral officials to private hotels where results were allegedly manipulated, facilitated vote buying, diverted election materials to private homes, and instructed presiding officers not to upload results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal as mandated by the Electoral Act.

Fabeke said: “Although many Nigerians have lost faith in the judicial system, I have evidence that no judge can ignore in delivering judgement.

“This election was a charade, and we have documented proof to challenge it.”

The AA candidate urged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Olaka Nwogu, who was declared winner by INEC, not to celebrate yet.

“He should not rejoice yet. A serious legal battle with concrete evidence awaits him,” Fabeke stated.

He added that his legal team will also defend the rights of voters whose ballots he claimed were unlawfully overturned during collation.

On reports linking Action Alliance to a coalition with the ruling party, Fabeke dismissed the claims.

“Let me make this clear; as the AA candidate, I have no coalition agreement with any political party, including the ruling party. We contested this election independently,” he said.

The by election was conducted to fill the Rivers South East Senatorial seat following the death of Senator Barry Mpigi.