Rivers re-run: Anti-Wike protesters storm Abuja

Protesters in their thousands stormed Abuja on Tuesday over the killings, especially of security officials, during the recent legislative election in Rivers State.

They also protested what they described as incitement of the people for violence allegedly by the governor of the state, Nyesom Wike.

The protesters under the auspices of National Support Groups for Good Governance carried various placards which condemned the alleged threats by Wike during the poll.

Some of the placards read, “investigate killing of security officers in Rivers”, “Gov Wike should stop poiticising the safety and peaceful coexistence of the good people of Rivers State”, “We demand for justice for the killing of innocent people in Rivers State instigated by Nyesom wike”, “Say no to Gov Nwike’s impunity and rascality”, “ICPC/EFCC to investigate the bribery of INEC officials based on self-confession of Gov. Wike” and “We say no to thuggery and continuous incitement of violence in Rivers by Gov Wike.”

The protest took off at the popular Eagles Square and took the protesters to Force Headquarters and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

At the Force Headquarters, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of operations, Alkali Baba Usman, received the protesters.

Speaking at the police headquarters, national coordinator of National Support Groups for Good Governance, Abdulwahab Ekakhide, said the group was opposed to all forms of electoral violence in the country.

“We are not happy with the spate of killings during elections in Nigeria with particular reference to the legislative re-run election in Rivers State where a DSP and his aide were beheaded with another resident shot dead,” he said.

According to him, it was worrisome that other good and innocent citizens who went out to freely exercise their franchise to determine who became their representative at the state and national assemblies were brutally murdered.

He expressed dissatisfaction that staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were abducted and taken hostage because people wanted them to write the result they wanted.

He said, “On the 18th of October, we were at the National Assembly and the Supreme Court to also say that there’s nobody that is above the law. Now, we are saying that Nigerians should join hands with all security agents to say no to electoral violence in this country.

Responding on behalf of the IGP, AIG Alkali described electoral violence as unacceptable.

He assured that the police will leave no stone unturned in bringing perpetrators of the violence to book.

Alkali disclosed that arrests had been made regarding the killings while investigations remained ongoing.

He noted that the law was clear on electoral violence and stressed the need for peace and security towards the development of the country.