Rivers re-run: Independent Observers laud Army, Police over conduct
On December 14, 20166:39 pmIn NewsComments

An Independent election observer group, the New Initiative for Credible Leadership (NICRel) and its CSO Partners which deployed several observers and monitors to last Saturdays re-run election in Rivers state have commended the Nigerian Army as well as other security agencies for their professional conduct in the face of severe provocation by thugs loyal to politicians.

The group also condemned the killing of police officers and demanded that a proper investigation be carried out to ensure that those found culpable are brought to justice.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the group’s Executive Director, Rev. Samson Onwu in what he described as impersonation of security personnel by thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said, “From available information, NICReL reliably gathered that the ruling party in the state and the Nyesom Wike led state government sewed army and mobile police uniforms for political thugs that were then distributed across the areas where elections were held.”

“We further gathered that while it appears that these heavily armed thugs, some in fake military and police uniforms, went on to engage in acts that tamper with the integrity of the polls, the actual goal is to cast doubt on the professionalism of the impersonated institutions.

“This was why a lot of attention was directed at videos showing fake “soldiers and policemen” assisting in rigging elections.”

“NICReL further noted the haste with which Mr Wike announced that he will no longer fund the Army and Police in Rivers state even when it had never been his constitutional role to do so.”

“It is on record that genuine policemen and troops were targeted for assassination as evident in the number of them that were killed when they discovered that they were being impersonated. This worrisome development is unacceptable especially when these security personnel put their lives a risk to provide cover for the election to hold.”

“It was in this very Rivers that six security officers were killed in the previous election. This time a DSP and his orderly were beheaded while on election duty.”

He said it is on record that state actors have in the weeks and days preceding the elections been engaged in acts of intimidation against the opposition.

According to him, prior to the exercise, violence and the threat of violence were the order of the day.

He said the violence was not limited to political actors taking on each other as they also targeted law enforcement and security agents.

He said, similar to violence, propaganda was also deployed in an unprecedented scale before, during and after the elections such that any efforts at unveiling the truth of what happened around the Rivers State re-run polls requires remarkable level of neutrality and skills..

He expressed dismay that most of the information on which a post mortem of the polls should be based on have been tainted by misinformation, disinformation and outright lies garnished with occasional lies.

According to him, a lot of this negative propaganda appeared to have targeted the military and security agencies that provided support for the exercise.

DropShot:
Wine the thugnor was surely the architect of all that went wrong in Rivers.

muykem:
Every reasonable people include those in PDP know that it is an abnormal situation to have a thug such as Wike as a state governor.

Atiku2019:

DropShot:
Wike the thugnor was surely the architect of all that went wrong in Rivers.

Using of thugs and cultists to win at all costs by beheading a DSP and his orderly.

Sewing uniforms for thugs to impersonate security personnel so as to forment trouble and discredit the security agencies.

Refusing to swear in APC house of assembly winners.

Today, we read how some of his thugs shot at APC peaceful celebration at Elele.

By God's Grace, the blood of all those Wike and his thugs killed in Rivers in 2015 and 2016 will hunt him forever till he is brought to shameful and disgraceful end. Amen.

muykem:
Every reasonable people include those in PDP know that it is an abnormal situation to have a thug such as Wike as a state governor.

Firefire:



What I know is this, anyone who killed by the sword, will surely die by the sword.

I wonder how Wike can be able to practice all this baseless and best imagine accusations in the face of the heavy deployment of state security apparatus to grab Rivers by all means.

Truth will surely prevail one day and light will overcome darkness.

DropShot:

You may need to go for medical check.

Your case is getting out of hand. Na like this you go dey post the ultra corrupt photo of the hopeless Atiku till 2019?

kopite:
Independent group based in Abuja indeed and paid by the Amaechi n group. These groups don't even know port Harcourt is, talkless entering rivers during election. Let them continue to collect money and be killing d truth. God will catch up with them someday. Thank God for d likes of Wike, if not minority group would hv grounded this our state with d so called federal might.

DropShot:

Truth is already coming out except if one chooses not to see it.

Wike surely has his thugs and cultists he uses to perpetrate his evil deeds. He will surely live to regret it.

Was it APC that killed the DSP since you say the police and army were working for APC?
Was it APC that shot their members today during their peaceful celebration?

Simple logic.

Atiku2019:



How your Day na?

Firefire:



These are only hypotheses that are yet to be tested. Only empirical evidence(s) through pictures and or video can attest to your assertion.

Please avail the world these evidence.

Otherwise, based on the available information in the public domain, Nigerian democracy is being truncated by APC and anarchy looms in subsequent elections.

He who has an ear, let him hear...

swagagolic01:
Lolz, am only angry with wike for granting amnestty b4 d reruns, he made d soldiers,Sars nd police officers look strong... because d state decided to hold a peaceful election d security officers became strong overnight, where were they during d 1st rerun Useless army

DropShot:

Anarchy? Tell me you're joking.

If there was no anarchy when PDP was in the habit of rigging elections left right and center, when they'd even tell you "go to court, we will still win at the court", how can there be anarchy now when elections are far more credible?

PDP is only being childish with their crying of rigging. I wish APC can do to PDP just half of what PDP did to AD, ACN, ANPP and other parties then, then we will see how they can cope.

DropShot:
Wike the thugnor was surely the architect of all that went wrong in Rivers.

Using of thugs and cultists to win at all costs by beheading a DSP and his orderly.

Sewing uniforms for thugs to impersonate security personnel so as to forment trouble and discredit the security agencies.

Refusing to swear in APC house of assembly winners.

Today, we read how some of his thugs shot at APC peaceful celebration at Elele.

By God's Grace, the blood of all those Wike and his thugs killed in Rivers in 2015 and 2016 will hunt him forever till he is brought to shameful and disgraceful end. Amen.