By Mark Lenu
The dominant vigilante group in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State, OSPAC has advised the people of the LGA not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause trouble before, during, and after the October 5 LG election in the state.
The vigilante group said this in view of what the area had experienced from past elections, adding that a lot of persons had lost their lives as a result of election violence.
The Secretary General of OSPAC, Gift Ohia told our correspondent that what the area needs is a peace that will foster development, not the tension and crisis that an election usually brings.
“Do not allow politicians to use you to cause trouble because it will never benefit you. Some persons are in prison today, some are dead, and houses are destroyed just because of elections.
“I expect our people to learn from the past. Election violence has never favored our people and we don’t want violence at all.
“On our part, as OSPAC, we will continue to do our best to keep the area free from crime and criminality. The time for our people to be wise is now,” he said.
The state electoral umpire, RSIEC has maintained that the October 5 election date remains sacrosanct. It was reported that RSIEC had commenced the screening of candidates ahead of the LG election.
If the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike is allowed to control the Peoples Democratic Party in the state. then the election is going to be a tough contest between him and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara as both of them really want to have their preferred candidates emerge in the poll.
