Civil Society Group Warns Against Rigging Of Rivers Re-run Elections
The Civil Society Alliance for Sustainable Democracy (CSASD) has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Federal government, not repeat the charade recently witnessed during the recently conducted Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States respectively. This was made known, Tuesday in Lagos, at a press briefing by the leadership of the group led by its Convener, Comrade Idris Usman.
The group says as the clock ticks towards the December 10th day for the conduct of the rerun legislative elections in Rivers State, it is compelled to alert Nigerians, local and foreign election observers and indeed the international community of the strategy being employed by the current APC-led government of President Buhari to manipulate the elections, using what we call the see and buy Rigging Strategy, as witnessed in the just concluded elections in Edo and Ondo States.
The group also accused the Federal government of plotting to use the security agencies to intimidate opposition politicians in Rivers State ahead of the election, as it has on good authorities, plans by the APC led government, to use the military to rig the Rivers rerun elections, by arresting notable opposition politicians, across some local government, such that they are either arrested and detained or simply hounded into hiding.
“We want to inform the general public particularly members of the International Community, that we have credible information about plans by the Federal government not just to use the military, but also the entire gamut of the nation’s security agencies: The police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Civil Defence. They have all been constituted into a Special Team that will be deployed to each local government and place under the command of the some APC Chieftains in the State” the group said.
While calling on the people of River State to be law abiding, the group call on the electorates to be vigilant and ensure that the stand resolute to protect their votes, so that no one will tamper with their votes. Comrade Usman also warned those who are bent on rigging the elections to know that Rivers State will be under an international spotlight on December 10th, 2016.
In conclusion, the group advised the federal government against all actions that are inimical to the growth of democracy in Nigeria, particularly with the recent trend of vote for cash being aided. It also said that any person who incites violence at any stage in the electoral process, or who seeks power through unconstitutional means, should be held accountable and should understand that the consequences of such will be severe, both domestically and internationally.