Some political stakeholders in Rivers State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate election result collation centres from local government council secretariats to police stations ahead of the 2027 general election.
The stakeholders alleged that opposition party agents were intimidated and denied access to collation centres during previous elections, creating opportunities for the manipulation of results.
They argued that moving the centres to police stations, particularly central police stations in each local government area, would improve transparency, enhance security and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
Former Labour Party (LP) chairman in Rivers State, Prince Favour Reuben, said opposition party agents were frequently prevented from entering local government secretariats during result collation.
Reuben alleged that the restriction of access had, in some instances, created room for the alteration of election results.
He cited the 2023 general election as an example, claiming that results were changed at some collation centres in local government areas where the ruling party allegedly exercised considerable control.
According to him, the concentration of political and administrative influence at local government secretariats could undermine the credibility of the collation process if opposition agents were denied access.
Reuben urged INEC to consider relocating the exercise to central police stations across the state’s local government areas, with access limited to duly accredited party agents and authorised election officials.
“If INEC wants to make us believe that the coming election will be free, fair and credible, the collation centres should be moved to police stations,” he said.
He maintained that the proposed arrangement would reduce the influence of local political interests and help protect collation officers from intimidation.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Rivers State, Ben Ogbogbulam, said political parties had previously presented their concerns to INEC and urged the commission to reconsider the use of local government secretariats.
Ogbogbulam, who is also the Rivers State chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), alleged that the existing arrangement had made it difficult for some opposition agents to monitor the collation of results effectively.
He expressed concern over what he described as possible manipulation at the centres and the treatment of ad hoc election workers.
The IPAC secretary said opposition parties were taking steps to prevent a recurrence of the alleged irregularities during the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, a rights activist, Dr Omenazu Jackson, called on INEC to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action where necessary.
Jackson also cautioned political leaders against actions capable of undermining the interests of voters, stressing the importance of safeguarding the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election.
The stakeholders maintained that credible elections would require transparent result collation, unrestricted access for accredited party agents and effective measures to prevent intimidation and electoral malpractice.
