Create room for credible polls in Rivers , European Ambassadors tell FG

Worried by the violence that marred the Port Harcourt State Constituency Three Election, Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Sean Hoy has called on the Federal Government to take steps to ensure that elections are conducted within the ambit of the rule of law. 

Similarly, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ketil Karlson declared meaures must be placed on ground  by the relevant authorities to check a repeat of the electoral violence on August 18, 2018 at the Port Harcourt State Constituency Three.

Both ambassadors spoke on Monday at the Government House Port Harcourt after a meeting with the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Sean Hoy said: "We must always follow the rule of law. Because election  without the rule of law  is not good.

"And it is not good for good governance ".

The Irish Ambassador noted that they were in Rivers State to participate in a programme organised  by INEC to improve youth participation in elections. 

He said: "We emphasised that the youths must register to exercise their right to vote".

The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ketil Karlson commended INEC  for the action it took after the violence during the Port Harcourt State Constituency Three Election.

"We have commended the work of INEC . They have taken an important step and stance on the Port Harcourt State Constituency Three Election.

"Measures should  be taken so that we don't see similar events in the future elections coming up in February and March next year ", the European Union Ambassador said. 

He expressed concern about the violence during the Bye-Election. 

Responding, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said it was embarrassing that elections could not be conducted in just 8 wards, saying nobody prays for a repeat of the ugly situation. 

He said: "It is so embarrassing that the police cannot secure eight wards and 142 Polling Units.  What will happen when elections will be conducted in 4442 Polling Units.  Violence will not help.

"I have told the international community that we want free and fair elections.  Anybody who watched what happened on 18th August, 2018 will know that if we had retaliated or told our people to come out, it would have been worse".

He stated that the entire world saw the purveyors of violence, saying that Nigerians know the real promoters of violence.

"We said, let the system play put so that we know what they intend to do in 2019. For us as a government and as a people, we will continue to support free and fair elections ".

While urging the international community to prevail on the security agencies to promote the enabling environment for credible elections, he noted that only credible polls will enhance the interest of the people.

Governor Nyesom Wike (m) Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Sean Hoy (r) and the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ketil Karlson after a meeting with the Rivers State Governor at the Government House Port Harcourt on Monday