United States (US) and United Kingdom have strongly condemned the use of violence and disruption of democratic process.
Reacting to the violence that greeted the last Saturday Rivers state rerun elections, both countries called upon the leadership of Nigeria’s political parties to urge their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process.
US in a statement issued by its embassy in Abuja, also called on those dissatisfied to pursue a resolution of their grievances peacefully in accordance with the rule of law.
The statement reads: The U.S. Embassy is concerned about reports of violence, including the possible targeting of electoral officials and irregularities during re-run elections in Rivers State on March 19, 2016.
“We condemn the use of violence and disruptions of the democratic process.
“We call upon the leadership of Nigeria’s political parties to urge their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process.
“We call on those dissatisfied to pursue a resolution of their grievances peacefully in accordance with the rule of law.”
Also, UK in a statement issued by its High Commission in Nigeria expressed its disappointment with the reports of violence, in particular against electoral officials (INEC), around the elections in Rivers state on 19 March 2016.
“UK observers in Rivers state saw irregularities around the voting and noted the low turn-out of voters at polling units which was in part a consequence of fear of violence,” the statement reads.
The British High Commission also urges the leadership of both major political parties to encourage their supporters in Rivers to behave peacefully and call on those still dissatisfied to pursue resolution of their grievances through the courts in accordance with the rule of law.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was forced to suspend all further actions concerning the court ordered re-run elections in the Rivers State National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats held on Saturday, 19th March 2016.
The Commission said the action was necessitated due to widespread reports of attacks leading to fatalities, kidnappings, ballot box snatching, diversion of officials and materials amongst others.
In a statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity Department, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, last Sunday, it was impossible for the Commission to collate the election results under the difficult circumstances.
“Having reviewed the situation, the Commission is compelled to suspend all further action concerning the exercise in all other constituencies in the state pending the receipt of a comprehensive report from its Field Officials and Monitors. For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the suspension does not affect the constituencies where the exercise has been completed and the results declared by Returning Officers,” the Commission said.
Affirming the reasons for the suspension, the statement read: “some of the lections witnessed the disruption of the process, including the barricading of some of the INEC Local Government offices and Registration Area Centres (RACs) used for the distribution of Electoral materials which led to the late commencement of the exercise in some places and consequently, its smooth take off”.
It further stated that: “of more serious concern was the level of threats and intimidation of election officials and voters by well armed thugs and miscreants allegedly acting on behalf of some politicians, which marred the elections in some areas. There were reports of numerous attacks resulting in fatalities, kidnappings, ballot snatching, diversion of officials and materials, amongst others, which necessitated its suspension in 8 Local Government Areas”.
