The Rivers State Police Command has organised a one-day stakeholders meeting with critical and other actors in the electioneering processes with a view to ensuring a peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections in the state.
The Police in the state also promised to provide an equal opportunity as well as to provide a level playing ground for all political parties and other active players involved in the conduct of the elections in the State.
The roll call of the attendance at the event include the traditional rulers, political parties candidates, religious leaders, security agents, youth organizations, Civil Society organisations, members of police Community relations committee (PCRC), women groups, the media, among others.
The event provided the needed platforms for participants to highlight causes of violence during election in the state as well as profer solutions to avoid election violence in the state.
Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Belel, said the interactive programme was held in order to ensure peaceful elections in the state devoid of condemnation.
Belel disclosed that the target of the command in achieving the desired peace in the conduct of the elections in the state would be to sensitise the youths on the need to give peace a chance, adding that the police under his watch in the state would be apolitical and would display professionalism during the conduct of the elections.
“We have interacted, we have seen the problem and our target is the youth, we want to give Rivers people credible, free and fair elections”.
“Let me assure the people of the state that the police under my watch will be apolitical and professional”, he stated.
Also speaking, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Ebo Efanga, said over 2.65 million voters had collected their PVCs adding that the Commission gave an opportunity to register and collect their PVCs uptill August, 2018.