Towards Peaceful Rerun Polls

For over one year now, Rivers State has no representation at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is also disheartening that the state has no full representation on the floor of the House of Representatives. This is as a result of inconclusive and incessant postponement of the National and State Assembly elections in the state. This unprecedented practice by the Independent National Electoral Commission has caused grave disadvantages and marginalisation of Rivers people. Rivers people were made to wallow in obscurity without hope of seeing equal representation in democracy.

Sensitive bills that needed Rivers people’s inputs through their representatives were debated upon without contributions from them. It was this injustice that made the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to direct INEC to hold the long awaited re-run election on 10th December 2016 in Rivers and Anambra States respectively, failure of which the Senate would suspend sitting for a while as protest in solidarity Rivers  and Anambra States. The decision of the Senate mandating INEC to hold the re-run elections was applauded by well-meaning Rivers people.

The delay in holding the re-run elections in Rivers State has exposed the weakness and unpreparedness of Independent National Electoral Commission in conducting the remaining elections. INEC, on its part, has given insecurity as reason for the unwarranted delay. Rivers people have been denied their inalienable right of representation  because the three senatorial districts of the state have no senators, which is not a good development for real democracy.

The re-run election on the 10th December, 2016, should be jealously guarded to avoid any inconclusive election because Rivers people have suffering   discrimination and denial of democratic dividends enough. No right thinking Rivers people want this re-run to be postponed. This is because the first  tenure of this administration is gradually coming to an end. The political parties jostling for victories should make peace their watch-word. Rivers people cannot afford to miss this chance. Therefore, INEC should maintain the position of an unbiased umpire both overtly and covertly.

Indeed, it is time for Rivers people to come out and exercise their franchise. Concerning insecurity, the effort of the Rivers State Government in granting amnesty to cultists would ensure peacice in the  state. There is no other Rivers State apart from the Treasure Base of the Nation. Therefore, political parties and their followers should consider the lives of electorates who will vote.

No politician should take Rivers State as a battleground to show might. Rivers State is so precious for any one to destroy. The re-run election on the 10th of December should be seen as a unifying force to reshape the geography of Nigerian politics. Rivers politicians should, as a matter of the state’s interest, love the state more than their political interest.

Indeed, for the sake of peace in the state, INEC should carry all the political parties along. Since the inception of democracy in Nigeria this is the first time Rivers is going through this kind of experience.

The just-concluded presidential election in America was devoid of mass killings and violence despite the war of words by Donald J. Trump, the president-elect and Hillary Clinton of the Democrats. Therefore, our political leaders and party faithful should emulate them and rescind  any act capable of causing violence and killings in the state. Every stake holder should, as a matter of peace and development of Rivers play politics in accordance with the rules and regulations. The two major political parties, APC and PDP, should focus their attention on Rivers State’s interest and not their selfish political interest.

In conclusion, the Independent National Electoral Commission should be impartial and unbiased in its statutory responsibility of conducting the election in the state on the 10th of December 2016. We need peace and not crises before and after the re-run election. .

Ogwuonuonu wrote from Port Harcourt

Frank Ogwuonuonu