By Precious Ahiakwo-Ovie
The 2023 General Election Situation Room by the Community Initiative for Enhanced Peace and Development (CIEPD) with funding support from Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), is calling on Security Agencies especially the Rivers State Police to quickly tackle the post election brewing violence between the PDP and APC before it gets out of control.
This is coming as the concerns of both parties deepen by the day with various demonstrations and pointers of violence since after the March 18th Gubernatorial and State Hose of Assembly elections in the state.
A Press Statement by the Executive Director of the Community Initiative for Enhanced Peace and Development (CIEPD), Ego Ogbalor also called on The Independent National Electoral Commission Rivers take actions that depict their independent status and be seen as independent to calm the brewing tension.
“Following the release of the Final result of the gubernatorial and state house of assembly election, held on the 18th of March 2023 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there has been unrest in the state (Rivers State), Community Initiative for Enhanced Peace and Development (CIEPD) with funding from PIND Foundation believes that a key attribute of a credible electoral process is the access to seek redress in court when candidates and political parties feel they have been undone by the outcome of an election”.
The Statement while condemning the violence that took place in the wake of the protests by political parties around the Independent National Electoral Commission – Rivers State Office, calls for constitutional means and violence-free measures to resolve electoral disputes.
The Statement urged all political parties, INEC, and security agencies to play by the rule and allow the law to take its full course to avoid the looming crisis.
“The 2023 gubernatorial elections in Rivers state may have come and gone but the fallout from the process have been characterized by violent triggers such as intimidation and counter-accusations from all parties involved. This has led to heightened tension in the state. As an organization that is committed to ensuring peace and nonviolent means in resolving disputes, we are concerned by recent happenings and hereby make calls to all stakeholders involved, especially the Rivers State Police Command, while dealing with post-electoral complaints should not be seen by the actions and inactions as being partial and used by politicians to witch hunt any political party.
They (The police) must act fast to calm the violence to avert the loss of lives and destruction of property. Finally, we urge all political parties, INEC, and security agencies to play by the rule and allow the law to take its full course to avoid the looming crisis. We stand for peace, as that is the only option”.