Rivers Bye Election: “Don’t Murder Democracy” Coalition of Observer Groups Urge Desperate APC

A coalition of Observer groups that observed the Rivers Constituency III House of Assembly bye elections have appealed to the All Progressives Congress APC not to murder the democracy which the Nigerian people fought so much to achieve and is enjoying today all in its desperate bid to grab power at all cost. The coalition in a press statement made available to newsmen and signed by Comrade Davidson Wokoma and Abubakar Adah said the conduct of the party and its agents on Saturday the 19^th of August 2018 leaves much to be desired and should be condemned by all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and the world over.

“We were attacked by thugs hired by the party which has never happened to us even in Ekiti despite all the hype that greeted the governorship election in that state. The Chairman of the APC in the state Ojukaye Flag – Amachree was seen moving from ward to ward mobilising miscreants to attack members of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and eligible voters. The worse of it all is the attack against journalists and observers. Video cameras were seized, tags dragged off necks of as well as the manhandling we received from these thugs who moved along with the State’s Party Chairman wherever he went to”. The group said.

The Coalition also condemned the actions of the security personnel especially those attached to politicians who went about with the thugs and gave them cover while they carried out their condemnable actions. “Security personnel attached to politicians who were not accredited to cover the elections went about with the thugs and gave them cover while they intimidated voters. They also tear gassed voters and electoral workers. If what we observed in the election of Saturday is allowed to stand, then 2019 will be a big disappointment for democrats all over” the coalition posited.

It supported the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to suspend announcement of the election which it said was a complete travesty. The group also said it has evidences to support the fact that APC led thugs disrupted the elections. The group also called for the prosecution of those involved in the disenfranchisement of the people in the election stressing that it was only through such action that deterrent will be made thereby forestalling the reoccurrence of such ignoble actions by enemies of democracy.

The group urged Rivers people to remain steadfast and peaceful despite the attacks and threat against democracy while urging the international community to look into the threat to democracy in Rivers state and the country as a whole especially as the country heads into general elections come 2019.

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