PRESS BRIEFING
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, esteemed colleagues, and fellow citizens,
We, the Rivers civil society organisations, stand united in our commitment to promoting democratic principles hinged on free, fair and credible elections. Today, we gather to reaffirm our support for the upcoming local government elections in Rivers state and to emphasize our key demands:
Level Playing Field*:
We urge the Rivers State Independent electoral commission to ensure a level playing ground for all political parties, guaranteeing equal opportunities for campaign financing, media coverage, and voter access.
Internal Democracy*:
We call upon RISIEC and political parties to uphold internal democratic principles, promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in their decision-making processes. This election is key to the development and progress of our communities. Hence, we codenm any form of imposition of candidates on the people. We particularly condemn the way and manner the ACTION PEOPLE’S PARTY conducted their primaries. It was more of an imposition that an election.
Zero Tolerance for Violence*:
We condemn any form of violence, intimidation, or harassment and urge all stakeholders to commit to peaceful elections.
We believe that these demands are crucial for strengthening our democracy in the state and ensuring that the voices of all citizens are heard. We will continue to engage with political parties, the Rivers state electoral commission, and other stakeholders to promote these values.
Key Recommendations*:
Police
We call on the Commissioner of Police to provide security for the election and display high level professionalism and neutrality in the election.
Political Parties:
We call on political parties and candidates to tell Rivers people their developmental program and manifestoes. It’s worrying that in less than two weeks to the election, candidates are yet to do vigorous campaign. We call on the people to vote out any political party or candidate that refuse to engage them with their developmental programs.
Independent Electoral Commission*:
We support the independence and impartiality of the electoral commission, ensuring its ability to conduct free and fair elections.
Voter Education*:
We advocate for comprehensive voter education programs to enhance civic awareness and participation.
Post-Election Review*:
We propose a thorough review of the electoral process to identify areas for improvement.
We invite all civil society organisations, political parties, and citizens to join us in promoting peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections. We will set up SITUATION ROOM to update the people on the happenings before, during and after the 5th October,2024 Local government elections in Rivers State..
Com. Enefaa Georgewill
Chairman,Rivers Civil Society Organizations
