CSOs protest continued stay of Rivers REC in Port Harcourt

Members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Port Harcourt, Rivers state Monday took to the streets to protest against the continuous stay of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga in the state.

The groups, identified as the “International Society of Social Justice and “Human Rights and Advocate for Justice International”, led by Dr. Jackson Omenazu and Young Bassey, a Lawyer.

The duo led their supporters in a joint protest to the operational offices of some security agencies in the state urging them to appeal to the authorities of INEC to redeploy the REC to avert looming crisis.

The CSOs took their protests to the Director for Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police.

They accused the INEC in the state of partisanship, insisting that his continueous stay in the state will spark anarchy and further deaths in the state.

Addressing their hosts at their different offices, the leader of the protest, Dr. Omenazu said, “We are here to present a letter of protest to the Police Commissioner on what we have observed as civil society organization, about the conduct of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state.

“As law enforcement Officers, we believe you are saddled with responsibility of prosecuting any erring government agent that has compromised his or her office.

“Our findings have indicated that the state REC, Obo Affanga’s actions and inactions may throw the state into unimaginable crisis, Anarchy looms in the state because of his conducts and we are calling on the CP to please for the sake of peace, avert the anarchy that is looming in the state by calling the REC to order.

“When an electoral umpire becomes bias, it is a catalyst to anarchy and we don’t want anarchy in this state any more. Rivers state has had engulfed in crisis, enough blood shed.

“We don’t want to see him; Rivers people don’t want to have anything to do with him anymore. INEC headquarter should please send in another REC that will conduct free and fair elections so that Rivers people can have peace.

“His continuous stay and presiding and superintending over elections in this state is a call to anarchy and the only way to avert it, is for him to leave the state in peace,” he insisted.