Brave Dickson
The barring of Rivers State APC candidates from contesting the forthcoming general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following court judgment seems to be a source of joy to some Christian clerics in the state.
Speaking to our correspondent on anonymity because they do not want their names in print, the clerics said, “we have been praying for this year’s elections to be violence-free, especially in Rivers State.
“We also noticed that the June 2018 local government election in the state was violence free because the All Progressives Congress did not take participate.
“We also observed that the suspended Phalga State Constituency 3 bye-election in 2018 was marred by violence because APC took part.
“We now come to the conclusion that each time APC and PDP participate in elections in the state, it used to be characterized by violence.
“We only prayed for violence-free elections in the state. But God who works in mysterious ways knows why APC may not participate in the forthcoming elections.
“We think if the disqualification of the state APC candidates will make the elections violence-free, then we can consider it as an act of God.”
The clergymen maintained that peace before, during and after the forthcoming elections is what the state wants.
They accused the political class of not having the state and its citizens at heart, warning electorates not to vote for “do or die affair” politicians.
APC in the state was said to have shot itself on the foot when the party factionalised in preparation towards it congresses, primaries and the general elections.
APC factionalisation led to tough legal battles within its fold while the party congresses and primaries were going on.
Resultant judgments from its internal legal tussles disqualified the party’s state candidates who emerged via direct and indirect primaries conducted by both factions.
