Fear of violence was palpable in Rivers State hours to that start of the contentious rerun of legislative elections in the state.
The situation prompted both the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division of Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Maj-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Francis Odesanya, to issue stern warnings against ballot box snatching, rigging and unlawful movements during the rerun that will cut across the three senatorial districts in the state.
As soldiers and policemen were deployed in flashpoints and other strategic areas, representatives of the European Union, US, UK and France issued a joint statement yesterday expressing fears that the elections could turn violent.
Both the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), through its President, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, and Doing Democracy Movement (DDM), through its Convener, Anyakwee Nsirimovu, also warned against violence and rigging during the rerun, stressing that the electorate must be allowed to vote for candidates of their choice.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police also stated that officers and men of the command would not tolerate lawlessness, thuggery, violence or rigging, and would deal decisively with troublemakers, no matter how highly placed.
MOSOP said: “Ogoni and other Rivers people are urged to be peaceful, vigilant to ensure violence-free, fair and credible rerun elections.
“The people, especially the youths, must be peaceful at all times and not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause violence before, during and after the elections. Violence during the polls will be a setback.”
The military are on stand-by to deal with any eventuality.
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