Embattled REC insists she is still head of INEC in Rivers

Embattled Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mrs. Gesila Khan, yesterday insisted that she was still in charge of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the state.

Khan made this known in Port Harcourt while exchanging views with journalists against the backdrop of statements that she had been redeployed because of the alleged role she played in the last general elections in the state.

While acknowledging that INEC headquarters had sent three administrative secretaries to the state, she pointed out that the secretaries were to assist her in making materials available to parties that would require them at the on-going elections tribunal.

According to her, “During the presidential election, three national commissioners came; during the governorship election, three national commissioners also came and now, we have three administrative secretaries. That is just to make the job faster, coupled with the fact that tribunals are time-bound and the work (sorting our election materials) is voluminous.

“The INEC head office in Abuja decided to draft three administrative secretaries to support us so that we can meet up with the time. We should conclude this exercise (inspection of election materials) before the tribunal comes to an end. We are human beings, and if you are told to produce 1,000 copies today, will you produce it? Sometime, even machines break down let alone man”.

Khan, while speaking further on her purported transfer, said: “I am here and I am still here. I have not been transferred. If I have been transferred, I should not be sitting here; I should be packing my things. Even if I am transferred, there is nothing wrong with that because this is government work and anytime you are called to move, you move. But for now, I have not been called to move”.