No Violence, No Vote-Buying in Rivers LG Polls, Says Nwambu

No Violence, No Vote-Buying in Rivers LG Polls, Says Nwambu

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

Head of Mission of the Rivers State Local Government Election Observation Team, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, has described Saturday’s council polls as one of the most peaceful elections in recent Nigerian history.

Dr. Nwambu confirmed that 330 observers were deployed across the 23 local government areas of the state, with no incidents of violence, thuggery, or vote-buying reported.

“As the head of mission for election observation here in Rivers State, my centre has deployed about 330 observers across the 23 local government areas.
“We had a pre-election observation and analysis where we noticed there was no violence or acrimony. Campaigns were strictly issue-based, and personalities were not being attacked, unlike in the past,” he said in Port Harcourt on Saturday evening.

While acknowledging slight delays in voting in some areas, he noted that polling generally commenced in good time.
“In places like Ward 7 and parts of Elelewon, voting began around 9:00 or 9:30am instead of 8:30am. But overall, the process was orderly,” Nwambu explained.

On security, he gave a glowing assessment of security agencies’ conduct during the exercise.
“Generally, the environment is peaceful. We’ve not observed any incidents of electoral-related violence. The police, as the lead agency, are on top of the game.
“This is one of the best elections in terms of performance of law enforcement agencies. They are not brutalising anybody. Unlike in the past, they are even assisting observers where necessary, provided everyone conducts themselves peacefully,” he said.

Nwambu further highlighted the absence of vote-buying, which he described as a “remarkable development.”
“In all the observers we deployed, there is no case of vote-buying observed anywhere. This is a pace setter. This is how an election should be,” he declared.

He also pointed out that the high turnout reflected renewed enthusiasm among voters.
“In previous elections, there was very high voter apathy. But this time, people came out en masse to exercise their franchise,” he said.
“We would recommend this pattern of election for Nigeria any day, because of the peaceful disposition of the electorate, the candidates, and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.”

According to him, the compliance with movement restrictions was evident as residents turned major roads into football fields, further underscoring the calm atmosphere across the state.

“This election, from what we have observed so far, is one of the best in the history of Nigeria,” Nwambu concluded.