2019 POLLS: Group speaks on level of abuse of power in Rivers

A group, the Grassroots Democratic Coalition, has condemned what it says was a brazen brigandage, dictatorial and practical abuse of state power perpetrated in River State by some anti-democratic elements, during the just concluded presidential and governorship elections.

According to the group, the abuse of state power which was aided and abetted by some security agencies sent dangerous signals as it advised “that people who are not satisfied with the outcome of election results need not resort to violence as they have other opportunities of judicial adjudication to resort to, instead of taking laws into their hands”.

In a statement signed by the leadership of the group namely Comrade Razaq Oladosu, Comrade Demi Lawson, Comrade Benjamin Ojutalayo, they said any individual found culpable of disrupting the electoral process should be held culpable.

“We have seen video clips of security agencies in cohoot with some politicians invading and cordoning off collation centers and scaring away electoral officers, snatching and scattering of poll results at gun point.

Read also: We are compiling report on Nigeria’s election – US

“The international and local observers report too actually exposed the level of desperation being displayed by persons who are hell bent in having their ways against the people’s will.

“The daylight brigandage and violence being meted out to the voters and generalty of the citizens of Rivers State is uncalled for and quite despicable.

“The group advised that people who are not satisfied with the outcome of election results need not resort to violence as they have other opportunities of judicial adjudication to resort to, instead of taking laws into their hands.

“We call on all genuine democrats and men and women of good conscience to arise and condemn this criminality being perpetrated against the government and people of River State,” the statement by the group read in full.

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