In a bid to ensure peaceful and credible election, March 19, 2016 in Rivers State, the Civil Society Platform in Rivers State comprises other 25 groups has concluded a mega peace rally in Port Harcourt.
The rally which kicked off by 9 am at the Rivers State College of Arts and Science (RIVCAS) with a slogan, “I support peaceful election”.
The group which chanted songs “Support peaceful elections in the re-run election in Rivers State, matched through Rumuola, Rumuokuta, Whimpey, Mile 3, Mile 1 UST junction Aba Road and terminated at Independent Electoral commission INEC office in Rivers State and paid a courtesy visit to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak.
Addressing members of the public and Civil Society group the president of the Civil Society Platform in Rivers State, Amb. Emmanuel Nkweke aka “Mr. Vote Count” said the aim of the rally was to ensure peace in the rescheduled national, State Assembly election on 19th March, 2016, hence the platform deemed it necessary to sensitize the public on the need for peaceful election across the state before and after the elections.
He further stated that the group has earlier visited the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to support the Platform achieve their target of ensuring peaceful election.
Amb. Nkweke further stated that the platform has been their search light across the state aimed at ensuring peace in the state before and after the re-run legislative election.
He urged politicians to embrace peace and take politics as a social gain and not a do or die affair.
In her response Mrs. Amina Zakari, a National INEC commissioner who spoke on behalf of the REC Commissioner in Rivers State Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak disclosed that INEC was fully prepared and committed for the re-run election in Rivers State and enjoined politicians and stakeholders to cooperate with Electoral Commission to organize peaceful elections in the forthcoming election.
Earlier in a chat with journalists the Public Relations Officer of the Civil Society Platform in Rivers State, Amb. Christian Lekel noted that the Civil Society Platform in Rivers State are aware of what happened in the last elections where the polls were marred by violence and we have heard the utterances of politicians that would not bring peace in the state hence the platform deems it necessary to embark on peaceful rally to enlighten the public on the need for peaceful election in the re-run legislative election in Rivers State.
He noted that prior to the peace rally the platform had organized seminar, interactive section with stakeholders and politicians among others aimed at ensuring peace in the election.
Similarly, in a chat with journalists at the rally, Amb. Christy Iwazor the woman leader urged all women in the state not to be intimated rather should come out on enmass to participate in the forthcoming re-run election in Rivers State. ###
