The Rivers State Chairman of the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Saint David Kalio, has appealed to Rivers State electorate to forget the incidence of the Presidential and National Assembly election and come out en masse to cast their votes for their choiced of candidates during the Governorship and State Assembly election this weekend to improve on their voting percentage.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the IPAC meeting in Port- Harcourt, the GPN chairman stated that though he did not witness any of the incidence where the soldiers were directly involved in the electoral process it could be possible that those involved may be fake soldiers until investigation is carried out and ascertained otherwise.
Saint Kalio, however, condemned the introduction of the military into electoral process for whatever reason instead of the police whom he noted has the statutory function to do so.
He also condemned the manipulation of the elections in whatever guise, adding that the nascent democracy has to be sustained in the interest of the country, insisting that no one person, individual or group has the right to derail the hard earned democracy.
The GPN boss made it clear that Nigerians are now wiser and would not want to disrupt the system for anything.
On the proliferation of political parties in Nigeria, the chairman said it is a welcome development as it would afford everyone the opportunity to try his/her leadership prowess.
He went further to advocate for Independent Candidacy, adding that the innovation should be introduced into the system so that credible but unlucky aspirants who were edged out in their individual parties would have the opportunity to showcase their talent in order to serve their people.
On whether the Nigerian courts still have the confidence of the people as the last hope of the common man as to get justice, Saint David Kalio agreed that the courts still maintain the hope especially where the individual judges still respect their integrity.
He used the opportunity to urge INEC and the security agents to endeavour to conduct a free, fair and credible election for Nigeria’s future.
Similarly the Legal Adviser of the IPAC and GPN chieftain, Barr (Mrs) Claribel Whyte has called on the security agencies and INEC to reduce the tension that characterized the Presidential and National Assembly election penultimate week.
She condemned the intimidation, killings and maiming that took place in various local government areas of Rivers State especially Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, where more casualties were recorded.
She made it clear that election is not a do-or-die affairs but a contest to choose credible leaders to improve the peoples welfare.
Barr. (Mrs) Whyte equally appealed to the authorities to keep the military out of the electoral process to enable the voters to cast their votes peacefully without fear for their choiced candidates.
She however, stated that the involvement of the military was understandable as President Muhammadu Buhari, she noted, would not want to be unseated easily considering his military background.
The Legal Adviser used the opportunity to condole with those who lost their loved ones in last election and called for proper investigation into the incidence with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
She, however, promised the electorate of an improved atmosphere this weekend for the governorship and state assembly election, and urged them to come out in their numbers to elect their leaders.
