President Buhari calls for peaceful elections in Rivers.

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for peaceful and orderly conduct during the rerun legislative elections in Rivers on Saturday.

The elections are to be held in 21 constituencies, made up of three senatorial districts, eight Federal constituencies and 10 state constituencies.

Buhari urged the political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to ensure the polls were conducted without rigging, violence and intimidation of opponents and electoral officials.

He reminded politicians and their supporters in Rivers to put “the higher interest of the people of the state in mind, as they go to the polls on Saturday, saying the rerun elections should not be seen as a do-or-die to the extent that people will be killed, maimed and property destroyed in a mindless display of crude primitive instincts.”

Buhari said innocent blood should never be sacrificed on the altar of political contest for temporary power, urging security and law enforcement agencies to exhibit professionalism and non-partisanship in the discharge of their constitutional duties even in the face of extreme provocation.

He also directed them to deal decisively with trouble-makers and those bent on violating the sanctity of the electoral process.

The president also enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission to do all within its powers to give transparency and fairness to the electoral exercise in Rivers.

He restated the commitment of his administration to deepening democracy in the country by enthroning a legacy of respect for the wishes of the people through free, fair and credible elections devoid of intimidation and violence.

Also, Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has deployed 28, 000 police officers and men to Rivers to provide security for December ten rerun elections.

Idris said logistics arrangements had been concluded, saying three helicopters would be used for arial surveillance, each per senatorial district.

He also said 28 gun boats would be used by the police to patrol waterways in the state in collaboration with Nigerian Navy, urging the people of the state to support security agencies to ensure peaceful polls.

Also, Nigerian Army has directed the deployment of troops to flash points in Rivers ahead of the Dec. 10 legislative elections rerun in the state.

General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Major-General Kasimu Abdulkarim,gave the order while addressing officers and soldiers at the Divisional Headquarters in Port Harcourt, saying the directive was to ensure the prevention of breakdown of law and order before, during and after the elections in Rivers.

He said troops would also be deployed to strategic locations, including oil and gas installations and other critical assets in and around the state.

According to him, commanders will embark on early planning, coordination and liaison with civil authority, Nigeria Police Force, INEC and other stakeholders to ensure hitch-free election.

During the election, commanders are to ensure that troops are deployed at flash points, key points and valuable points before, during and after the elections.

Abdulkarim also directed “local commanders’’ of the army to escort the election materials to INEC office in Port Harcourt.

He said troops would identify and curtail hostile individuals, groups and key players; gather information and carry out a show of force within strategic towns in Rivers and adjoining states.

Abdulkarim urged troops to remain non-partisan and document on video as pictorial evidence for use in the event of litigation that might result from their conduct during the elections.

The GOC also advised troops to strictly adhere to army’s election Code of Conduct and Operational Orders in the rerun elections.

Meanwhile, Developed countries have expressed concern over Saturday’s re-run election in Rivers state.

UK, US, French, and EU Heads of Mission in Nigeria in a Joint statement Friday called on the leadership of all political parties and their supporters to allow for peaceful election.

They urged party leadership and their supporters not to use or incite violence.

Paul T. Arkwright – British High Commissioner to Nigeria; W. Stuart Symington – United States Ambassador to Nigeria; Denys Guaer – French Ambassador to Nigeria and Michel Arrion – EU Head of Delegation to Nigeria all signed the statement.

The envoy stressed that the leaders of all parties are accountable for the actions of their members and

They also encouraged INEC and the security forces to perform their duties responsibly and impartially.

They also urge all parties to respect the electoral process and raise any grievances peacefully and through official channels.