Call your supporters to order - U.S. Embassy to Wike, Amaechi

– U.S. Embassy condemns the violence reported in the Rivers rerun

– At least five people were killed during the rerun elections

Reactions have continued to trail the March 19, legislative rerun elections in Rivers state following reported cases of violence.

At least five people were killed during the rerun elections in Rivers state, including a corp member. Dynamites were also reportedly detonated in Konor local government area in the course of the elections.

The election was also marred with other irregularities such as snatching of ballot boxes which culminated in the cancellation of polls in eight local government areas of the state.

Following the violence and other breach of the law in Rivers, the United States of America embassy in a statement made available to NAIJ.com has urged the leadership of Nigeria’s political parties to call their supporters to order.

The statement reads:  “The U.S. Embassy is concerned about reports of violence, including the possible targeting of electoral officials and irregularities during re-run elections in Rivers state on March 19, 2016. 

“We condemn the use of violence and disruptions of the democratic process.  We call upon the leadership of Nigeria’s political parties to urge their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process. 

“We call on those dissatisfied to pursue a resolution of their grievances peacefully in accordance with the rule of law.”

INEC cancelled results in eight more local government areas in the Rivers rerun election.They are Bonny, Gokhana, Khana, Andoni, Tai and Eleme, Etche and Asaritoru LGAs.

Aniedi Ikoiwak, the resident electoral commissioner, said that the reason for the cancellation was due to irregularities at the affected local government areas of the state.

The electoral umpire further notes violence, snatching of ballot boxes, noncompliance to electoral law as part of the cancellation. INEC says it is reviewing the rest of the process in the re-run polls.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) categorically called for the cancellation of Saturday’s legislative election rerun in the 23 local government areas of Rivers state.

According to Vanguard, this call was made by the party’s chairman in the state, Davies Ikanya, who noted that the election must be cancelled because of the violence involved in the process.

But in a rather characteristic manner, the PDP in the state accused the opposition of breeding trouble in the state during the election.

The party’s chairman in the state, Felix Obuah called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Magnus Abe and Peterside.