An alliance of independent media and non-governmental organisations has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to annul the results of the recent re-run legislative elections in Rivers.
The group in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, claimed that the re-run elections were not free and fair.
A joint statement signed by Amb. Sokari Afiesimama, President, Rescue Nigeria Mandate Mission (RENIM) and Mr Friday Maduka, Coordinator of Rural Empowerment and Peace Advocacy Initiative, strongly condemned the violence that marred the controversial election.
According to the group, “We are concerned about the wide spread of violence on a simultaneous sequence in the three senatorial districts which marred the election process.
“It is ugly and we, therefore, condemn the violence that trailed the conduct of the March 19 legislative re-run election in Rivers. The development is capable of truncating the country’s democracy.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to immediately step up security and track those that instigated the violence to ensure free, fair and credible election in the future. We also demand that offenders should be punished according to the law,’’ the statement said.
It further enjoined President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency to reduce the rate of violence in Rivers.
“We witnessed violence, shooting, assaults and snatching of ballot materials.
“We call on INEC to cancel the election on the grounds that the process was marred by heightened electoral irregularities.
“It is clear indication that some political gladiators have made up minds to disorganise the well being of Rivers, we can observe senseless instigation of violence that attracts the declaration of state of emergency,’’ the coalition said.
The coalition urged the appropriate authorities to investigate the alleged shootings and detonation of explosives to disperse electorate by some militants in some areas of the state where elections were held.
“The attack on the governorship candidate for All Progressives Congress, Dr Dakuku Peterside, his deputy, the party chairman, Dr Davis Nkanya and other political killings, should also be investigated,’’ the coalition added.
.
Comentarios