Leaders of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to immediately complete the process of the Governorship and State Assembly elections by announcing results duly collated from all polling units in Rivers State.
The Ikwerre leaders also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately withdraw his soldiers to allow the election process to be peacefully and credibly concluded.
The Ikwerre Leaders drawn from Ogbakor Ikwerre, Ikwerre Chiefs and Elders Forum, Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers and Okpo Club of Nigeria decried the illegal activities of the soldiers during the elections.
Their position was presented by Chief Onueze Okocha (SAN) of Okpo Club during a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre, Port Harcourt on Wednesday. Other prominent leaders at the conference include: Ochioha Orabule Adele (Ogbakor Ikwerre), Ochioha Prof Otonti Nduka (Ogbakor Ikwerre), Prince Paul Wonodi (Ikwerre Chiefs and Elders), Eze Ben Ugo (Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers) and Eze Morgan Amadi ((Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers)
“The President, Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari should direct the Chief of Army Staff to immediately withdraw his soldiers to allow the election process to be peacefully and credibly concluded.
“INEC should immediately complete the Governorship and House of Assembly elections process by announcing results duly collated from all polling units of Rivers State “.
The Ikwerre leaders called on all Ikwerre sons and daughters in all political parties to immediately refrain from all actions that are exposing the people to insecurity and danger.
They urged all communities in Rivers State to be vigilant to ensure that their communities are not used as theatres of election-related wars and brigandage.
According to the Ikwerre leaders, the negative activities of the soldiers and policemen during the Governorship and State Assembly appear to be in line with the earlier threats by certain politicians to make the state ungovernable.
They regretted that though Ikwerre land plays host to most key Federal Facilities and parastatals in Rivers State, it has been observed that recent activities of security forces are in provocative and in breach of the constitution.
The Ikwerre leaders condemned the actions of soldiers who stopped electoral officers from collating and declaring duly signed results as gathered from the polling units.
“Soldiers who should have no business being involved in the electioneering process have prevented electoral Officers from collating and declaring duly signed results from the polling units “, he said.
