The Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon. Barr. Philip Okparaji, has decried the introduction of the military into the electoral process of Nigeria.
Speaking with newsmen at Eleme during the Presidential and National Assembly Election last week, he made it known that the introduction of the military into the system is another aspect of coup against the Nigeria State by unscrupulous politicians.
Hon. Okparaji further disclosed that Eleme people watched with dismay how APC stakeholders with the conspiracy of the soldiers supervised the snatching of ballot boxes for their masters to thumpprint ballot papers to the advantage of APC and President Muhammadu Buhari.
He stated that despite the negative activities of the security agents, the people came out enmasse to show solidarity to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by massively voting for the party, adding that what the military did was nothing but a national embarrassment.
The Eleme Council boss stated that though the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appears to be ready to do the right thing in the interest of democracy, the hands of the officials were tied
as they succumbed to pressure from above to ensure that President Buhari was returned for a second term at all cost.
He explained that when the APC supporters noticed that PDP from the unit counting was emerging victorious, they got back to their masters who then instructed them for the option ‘B’ manipulation of results to please their Bosses at Abuja.
Hon. Okparaji however, used the opportunity to congratulate the Eleme PDP supporters for standing up against the APC intimidation and voted for their choice of candidates at the election.
He equally used the opportunity to urge them to come out in their numbers to vote for of in this election.
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and other State Assembly candidates to victory come the 9th March, 2019, assuring them of their safety, adding that a lot of things have been taken care of in this election.
He also used the occasion to send his condolences to the families of victims of the electoral violence unleashed on Rivers people by the APC in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
