Wike urges EU to closely monitor elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Monday, stated that the All Progressive Congress led Federal Government is working in liaison with security agencies to disrupt 2019 Governorship Elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.

Wike stated that the motive is to mobilise the Federal Government’s rigging security apparatus from all other states to the two states on a later date for the manipulation of the two strategic governorship elections.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Robert Petri, the Rivers State Governor urged the European Union to pay closer attention to the two elections.

“When I raised an alarm that the Federal Government is plotting to plant 800 guns in Rivers State to destabilise the state, it is the truth. It is real.

“The Federal Government is working with the security agencies in planning to disrupt the 2019 Governorship Elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.

“They want to ensure that the elections don’t hold with other states, so that they can mobilise security agencies to manipulate the results”, he said.

Governor Wike urged the international community to work with Nigerians to ensure that what happened in Osun State is not repeated in the Niger Delta.

Governor Wike said that if INEC and Police can allow 55 percent free and fair elections, Nigerians will be happy.

“As members of the European Union, we want you to use your position to prevail on INEC and security agencies to allow the will of the people.

“Manipulating the electoral process is corruption. This administration claims that it is fighting corruption, but that is not true. When a PDP member defects, the issue of corruption against him ends”, he said.

The governor stated that the President has refused to sign the amended Electoral Act because they have ulterior motive.

On the clean up of Ogoni, Governor Wike regretted that the APC Federal Government has politicised the exercise, which is only thrown up during elections.

In his remarks, the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Robert Petri assured that the European Union will closely monitor the forthcoming elections to ensure they are credible.

“We are getting closer to the General Elections which are very important . We need free and fair elections conducted under a peaceful environment.

“The European Union, which we are part of, will be sending monitors for the Presidential and Governorship Elections. It is important that the elections are conducted in a friendly environment “, the governor said.

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