Plot to rig Rivers poll responsible for crisis

The Niger Delta Congress, a political group in the south-south has blamed the widespread violence during the elections in Rivers state on the desperation of politicians to rig.

The group said it came to this conclusion after thorough deliberation with stakeholders at an emergency meeting on Wednesday.

INEC, had on March 10 , suspended all electoral processes in Rivers having determined that there was widespread disruption of collation of results of the elections conducted in the state on March 9.

The two leading parties in the state traded blames over the situation.

Nyesom Wike, governor of the state, was accused of behind the plot to jeopardise the exercise and going as far as  sponsoring propaganda against the Nigerian Army.

But the group said the military showed courage amidst pressure.

The group said if not for the military, thugs and hoodlums in military uniforms would have caused mayhem at collation centres and other venues of electoral activities.

“It was noted that the development in Rivers State, owing to its sensitive and volatile nature requires increased security and military presence to deter the violent thugs that are bent on sabotaging the electoral process to favour those that recruited them for such purposes,” the group said in a statement.

“INEC’s misrepresentation of the vital role played by the military could however jeopardize its ability and that of other security agencies to provide protection to Nigerians during the remaining exercise.

“The meeting was of the view that INEC must, within the limitations imposed by ongoing litigation and court pronouncements, immediately conclude the election in River State, and any other place with outstanding elections in the Niger Delta, in order to ease the tension that its poor handling of the process has created.

“Niger Delta Volunteer Congress faulted the failure of INEC to hold its staff to account after it emerged that many of them, including those in senior positions were compromised and were working for specific candidates and political parties in violation of the neutrality expected of them.”

The group, however, advised the military to prosecute anyone indicted as deterrence against the repeat of such dangerous act.