Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Tuesday, called on the United States Government to mount pressure on the Federal Government against using the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to manipulate the 2019 elections.
Addressing journalists after a meeting with the United States Consul General to Nigeria, Mr John Gray at the Government House Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Governor said that the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government indicate that they are not interested in credible polls.
He said: “We are preaching for free and fair elections and violence-free elections.
I let them know that we stand for free and fair elections. We stand for violence-free elections.
“Our fear is that we don’t have confidence that the Federal Government through INEC would want to conduct free and fair elections.
“You know that the security agencies are partial. Even the refusal of the President to assent to the amended Electoral Act gives us the impression that they are not interested in free and fair elections. ”
“Not having free and fair elections portend doom and danger for this country.”
Governor Wike called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescind his decision and follow the path of honour to sign the amended Electoral Act.
“We believe that Mr President would rescind that decision and assent to the amended Electoral Act so that Nigerians will have confidence in the Electoral process.
“The International Community has every role to play to impress on the President, security agencies particularly the police and INEC to be impartial during the elections.”
Wike said that the unnecessary changes in the nation’s security architecture show that the Federal Government is working against credible polls.
“Look at the changes in the security architecture in the country. Commissioners of Police are moved right, left and centre. In two days, some states have gotten four commissioners of Police. All these indicate that things may not be well in 2019”, he said.
