Ateke Tom Sues For Peaceful Rerun Polls

Ahead of the December 10 re-run elections in Rivers State, the Leader of Niger Delta Vigilantee (NDV), High Chief Ateke Tom, has stressed the need for peaceful rerun elections in the state.

Chief Ateke Tom made the call while speaking with newsmen at his Okochiri town in Okrika local Government Area of the state yesterday.

The NDV boss said the call has become very imperative in order to sustain the relative peace in the state, adding that all hands must be on deck to achieve peaceful elections in the state.

According to him, what the state needs during and after the elections is pace and not violence, adding that there was no need for anybody or group of persons to cause violence during and after the elections in the state.

“I am advising people of the state to maintain peace, no violence will be tolerated in the state. Nobody is bigger than the state”, he said.

He urged the people of the state to feel free to participate in the forthcoming re-run elections as well as maintain a peaceful atmosphere while casting their votes.

Chief Ateke Tom also stressed the need for peaceful rallies across the party lines before the elections and advised that no political party in the state should disrupt each other’s campaign.

“You want to do your campaign in my bedroom you can come even in Okirka, there is peace.

“Before APC or PDP, there was Rivers State, we want peace in the state”, he said, adding that after the elections, the state and her people would still remain.

The leader of the Niger Delta Vigilantee used the opportunity to call on all candidates participating in the election to campaign for people’s votes so as not to turn back after the elections to blame him for their electoral failure and misfortunes.

He commended the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) for remembering the state, even though the conduct of the elections was coming late.

Also speaking, the Paramount Ruler of Okoro-Ama Okochiri Koniju, His Royal Highness, Tamuno O.L. Akaluogbo and the President of Wakirike Youth Federation, Engr. Hope Akaluogbo assured of peaceful elections in the area.