Towards A Peaceful Re-run Elections in Rivers State
The peace of every sovereign state or nation leaves a very good impression on the sands of time about a given political administration.
A peaceful re-run elections in Rivers State would uplift the face of the state not just within the nation but in the global frontiers of the political community of the world.
The Re-run elections which is slated for Saturday December, 10th 2016, should be well planned, relevant authorities (INEC) should spell out the punishment that would be meted to defaulters.
Also the state and federal governments should ensure that security is beefed up in the state and all local government areas taking into cognizance the parade of outright violence and assault of citizens and INEC officials, snatching of ballot papers and boxes violently.
The act of buying of votes by the candidates should be stopped as candidates of any political party should not be seen at polling units unless they want to cast their vote.
Also issues of under aged being given Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) by a given party should be properly checked and observed and persons below the voting age should be sent away from polling units and also their permanent voter’s cards retrived from them, also PVCs should be made available for every eligible voter because that was a core problem in some LGAs in the previous cancelled elections where PVCs were hijacked before the day of election.
Issues of inefficient materials should be avoided as all materials that would be used for the elections should be properly serviced and made ready days before the Election Day and officials should be taught on how to handle emergency cases if need be as regards to voting materials.
Finally, the votes after the voting processes should be counted openly to avoid bias and malicious response from voters as every citizen has the right to know and observe counting process; also candidates of every party should be briefed on the act of sportsmanship like our former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan did in his time, as grudge for failure should not be a bias for name calling and instigation of violence.
The state and federal governments should take a proactive step before the said day as to avoid lapses in the electoral process that may lead to damaging of properties and even loss of lives in the different LGAs of the state. ###
