…as Niger Delta militants warn FG over military interference
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended all electoral processes in Rivers State.
The electoral process was suspended due to violence in most polling units.
INEC National Commissioner, and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, confirmed this in a statement released moments ago.
Part of the statement read
“These initial reports suggest that violence occurred in a substantial number of polling units and collation centres,”
“Staff have been taken hostage and materials including result sheets have either been seized or destroyed by unauthorised persons.
“In addition, safety of our staff appears to be in jeopardy all over the state and the Commission is concerned about the credibility of the process.
“Consequently, at a meeting held on 10th March 2019, the Commission has decided to suspend all electoral processes in the State until further notice. This is in line with Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and Clause 47 (e) of the Regulations and Guidelines of the Commission.”
Meanwhile, militants under the aegis of Amalgamated Niger Delta Volunteer Force has threatened to unleash fresh attacks on oil installations across the Niger Delta region if the federal government does not desist from depriving its people their fundamental rights to vote and elect leaders of their choice.
The agitated group in a statement signed by one Comrade Orunene Alagbarigha and made available to journalists, the group lamented that the Niger Delta region has suffered deaths and desecrations the federal government bid to foist upon its people an undemocratic government.
The statement reads titled, “Operation Red Warning: Desist or We March Force with Force” reads:
“We are pained at the current developments in the Niger Delta especially in Rivers State in the last 72 hours where our mothers, young girls and innocent children have been raped, killed at point blank, brutalized and entire community forced out of their homes into the forest, swamps and exposed to all manner of harm and danger; traditional institutions and shrines brazening desecrated all in an attempt to foist upon the people alien and undemocratic governance process of selection thus depriving our people their fundamental rights to vote and elect leaders of their choice at all levels as enshrined in our constitution.
“As peace-loving people, we deemed this action as evil, wicked and unprovoked attack on our people and can therefore no longer consider these undemocratic developments as fair play and to fold our arms and watch while an army of uncivilized occupation is unleashed on our people.
“We are equally aware of the plans by the federal government to instigate crises as an excuse to declaring a state of emergency and unleashing more mayhem on our people. We are too civilized to allow this to happen in this 21st century.
“As a people whose resources is the mainstay of the nation’s economy and on whose resources and accommodating nature and lifestyle the country armed forces have magnanimously benefited from since colonial times by the procurement of hard ware for the entire military and their welfare to turn and use same equipment upon the people who have borne the brunt of economic deprivation, hardship and environmental devastation spanning decades is to say the least evil as it goes against all norms of human decency, dignity and equity.
“By the Nigerian government actions, it is manifestly clear that war has been declared upon us and we hereby put the international community on notice that as a peaceful people, we are not afraid and never cowards. We promise to respond in a swift way and manner to reciprocate this gesture of wickedness by the national government of Nigeria.
‘We are sure our capacities to respond swiftly to unprovoked and unwarranted attacks on our people and communities, is not in doubt. We have proven that times without number and are ready to completely prove that again at the shortest possible time by making sure that we cripple all hydro carbon activities in the entire region as our cells in all the region are now on red alert to respond immediately and swiftly.
“By this, all international oil companies operating in the region are hereby put on alert as we will not be held accountable for any harm that may befall their people and facilities should this undemocratic actions by the national Government of Nigeria in the guise of election security continue.
“We will meet them force to force and will not fail nor falter in our quest to liberate our land from an army of occupation and oppression. – Vanguard.
