Report Indicts Inec, Police, Army In Rivers Elections Violence
SAN FRANCISCO, December 12, (THEWILL) – One of the groups that monitored Saturday’s legislative rerun elections in Rivers state, CLEEN Foundation, on Sunday released its report where the Police, Army, DSS were accused of playing a part in the many instances of violence and malpractices that characterised the polls.
This was as it blamed the killing of a deputy superintendent of police, Alkali Mohammed, who was beheaded in an ambush at Omoku, Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA, and his orderly, on “unwarranted use of force and shooting”.
According to the civil society organization, “The way and manner in which the election was conducted is a validation of the outcomes of the Security Threat Assessment report, and justifies the concerns of various stakeholders that the outcome of the election will not reflect the will of the people.
“There were serious cases of electoral violence orchestrated by the Police, Army and DSS in Ward 3 Bodo community in Gokana and Khana Local Government Area. This led to the shooting to death of Mr. Mbari John MeeBari.
“At Ward 12, Unit 5, Abonnema, Akuku Toru, Police shot sporadically to scarce away voters. At Sara 1, Sara 2 and Kalakama (Ward 12), Okirika LGA electoral materials were hijacked by the Army and officers of SARS at gunpoint.”
Lamenting the failure of the military and other security agencies to maintain neutrality towards the political parties, CLEEN Foundation said: “INEC, Police, Army and DSS provided overt and covert support for one of the political parties during the poll at Isiokpo INEC Collation Center,Ikwerre LGA, Ngo in Andoni LGA, Bonny LGA and Ahoada, INEC Staff and security agencies especially the army and police were observed openly aiding a political party.”
The election observer also said it noticed the late arrival of materials in some places, including “Ward 8, unit 14, Ubima, Ikwerre LGA; Ward 16, Nyokhana, Khana LGA, Ward 9, unit 3, Ogu Bolo LGA.
It tasked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police and INEC to launch investigations into the conduct of military personnel and police officers deployed for the rerun elections, and punish those found guilty of professional misconduct.