Campaign against vote selling launched in Port Harcourt

Lorine Emenike

Few days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria, Social Action, a Port Harcourt based Civil Society Organization in Partnership with the Rivers State command of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), held a one-day campaign rally “against electoral violence and selling of votes”. The campaign rally/walk was well attended by youths resident in Rivers State.

Speaking to newsmen, Prince Ekpere, the Program Officer of Social Action, said the campaign is to urge citizens in the state especially youths to resist selling of their votes, election malpractices and ensure that this year’s elections are free and fair as they vote in their credible choice of candidates.

Mr Ekpere said “nobody wants violence and by that, we are calling on Rivers State people and Nigerians, especially youths and women in the state to come out and vote peacefully, let nobody stop anybody from voting, everybody should come out and vote so that we can vote people of credibility into offices. People who will be able to give us good governance, people that will ensure our security and ensure that everybody is protected in Rivers State. Therefore, I use this opportunity to call on Rivers youths to be peaceful and law-abiding during this period of elections “.

Also, Livinus Okonkwo, the Assistant Chief Superintendent in the investigation department, ICPC Rivers State command, said ” the campaign against vote buying is another way of fighting corruption in the country” adding that the commission is proud to join forces with Social Action in the state to campaign and sensitize the people of the state against vote selling, electoral violence and malpractices.

Continuing, the ICPC Chief Superintendent advised youths in the state to resist being used as thugs or machinery by politicians in perpetrating violence just to achieve their selfish interest.

Also, Mazi Peter, Social Action officer, called on all residents of Rivers State to ensure they get their PVCs and vote in credible candidates of their choice.

He advised all Rivers youths to ensure their conducts are for the realization of a free and fair election.

Continuing, he said, “Before now, Rivers State has been judged as one of the flashpoints in Nigeria’s elections and that violence starts from the youths.

“The politicians use them as instruments to cause violence, so the campaign is to educate and enlighten them that these politicians that use them to perpetrate violence in election processes, their children do not get involved in the election processes.

“The politicians keep their children safe while the children of others are used in election processes which may either cause the youths their lives”

He therefore, urged them to resist being used by politicians to create violence in election processes in order for the elections in the country to be free and fare.