AA Candidate Calls Rivers By‑Election a Charade

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Action Alliance (AA) senatorial candidate who contested the recently concluded Rivers South‑East by‑election, Dr. Douglas Fabeke, has announced that he will file a legal challenge to the election result.

Dr. Fabeke cited a number of irregularities that he believes compromised the integrity of the poll.

Speaking with reporters in Port Harcourt yesterday, Fabeke said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had failed in several key areas essential to a free and fair election.

He alleged that INEC did not supply result sheets at many polling units, moved electoral officials to private hotels where results were allegedly altered, enabled vote buying, redirected election materials to private residences, and instructed presiding officers not to upload results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal as required by the Electoral Act.

“Although many Nigerians have lost faith in the judicial system, I have evidence that no judge can ignore when delivering judgment,” Fabeke said. “This election was a charade, and we have documented proof to challenge it.”

Fabeke warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Olaka Nwogu, who was declared the winner by INEC, not to celebrate. “He should not rejoice yet. A serious legal battle with concrete evidence awaits him,” he stated.

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

When questioned about reports linking the AA to a coalition with the ruling party, Fabeke denied the allegations. “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 held to fill the Rivers South‑East senatorial seat after the death of Senator Bari Mpigi. At the time of writing, INEC had not responded to Fabeke’s allegations.

Fabeke will need to present the documented evidence he referenced to the Election Petition Tribunal within 21 days of INEC’s declaration of results.