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US, Great Britain, EU Alarmed By Tense Atmosphere In Rivers State Ahead Of Re-Run Polls

December 9, 2016

In a joint statement, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul T. Arkwright, US Ambassador, W. Stuart Symington, French Ambassador, Denys Guaer, and Michel Arrion, head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, said they were concerned about “the rising tension in Rivers state ahead of elections on 10 December.”

Great Britain, the United States, France and the European Union have voiced alarm about the rising tension in Rivers State where a re-run of legislative elections are due to take place this weekend, specifically on December 10, 2016.

In a joint statement, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul T. Arkwright, US Ambassador, W. Stuart Symington, French Ambassador, Denys Guaer, and Michel Arrion, head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, said they were concerned about “the rising tension in Rivers state ahead of elections on 10 December.”

Their statement urged the leaders of all political parties and their supporters in Rivers state “to allow elections to go ahead peacefully.”

The Western diplomats also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Nigeria’s security forces “to perform their duties responsibly and impartially.”

Their joint statement concluded, “We urge all parties to respect the electoral process and raise any grievances peacefully and through official channels. We stress that the leaders of all parties are accountable for the actions of their members and we encourage them to urge their supporters not to use or incite violence.”

Topics
Elections