SENATE DIVIDED OVER DSS ROLE IN RIVERS POLLS

Senators are divided over the alleged interference of the Department for State Services (DSS) on the election tribunal in Rivers state.

Our correspondent reports that members of the Rivers State House of Assembly had written a petition to the Senate alleging that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is trying to use the DSS to upturn the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

PDP Senate caucus alleged yesterday that APC is planning to use the DSS to upturn the victory of the PDP in three states.

Speaking on behalf of the PDP caucus, senate minority leader Godswill Akpabio said “INEC officials in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Abia states are being forced by the DSS to produce falsified documents to support APC candidates’ cases before the tribunals.”

But senate spokesperson Dino Melaye denied the claim, saying “it is surprising and shocking that this is coming from the PDP. As we all know that we are coming from an era where you hardly separate the spokesperson of the PDP and that of the DSS.”

DSS chief Lawal Daura, represented by the director of operations of the service,  Mr Godwin Bassey Eteng,  told members of the senate ethics and privileges committee probing the matter that the allegation of undue interference leveled against them was unfounded, spurious, frivolous and far from the truth.

He said they started the probe following a petition by APC to them, alleging the violation of section 77 of the electoral act by INEC official by refusing to make available the materials used in the 2015 election.

The DSS denied its arrest of some INEC officials, saying “the service had in no time invited any judicial officer or members of the tribunal.  While it is true that Resident Electoral Commissioner of Rivers State and some of her staff were orally invited to assist the service in its investigation, neither she nor any of her staff was arrested or detained as alleged.”

But the committee members told the DSS that they lack the statutory right to delve into electoral matters.

Chairman of the ethics committee Samuel Anyanwu pledged that the committee would be fair to all the parties involved in the matter.