The umbrella body for Niger Delta youth organizations, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has condemned the arrest, detention, and continuous harassment of Gesila Khan, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Rivers State by the Directorate of State Security (DSS) over the role she played in the last general elections in Rivers State.
The umbrella body for Niger Delta youth organizations, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has condemned the arrest, detention, and continuous harassment of Gesila Khan, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Rivers State by the Directorate of State Security (DSS) over the role she played in the last general elections in Rivers State.
The IYC has accused President Buhari’s administration of persecuting the Niger Delta region, especially those Deltans perceived to be close to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
IYC spokesman Eric Omare said the continuing harassment of Niger Deltans must end. "This is unacceptable and we call on all men of good conscience to condemn it. Even in the military era, electoral officers were not subjected to such human rights abuses. It is also strange that the civil society and human right community in Nigeria are silent in the face of this treat and monumental rape on our democracy.”
"It is unprecedented in the electoral history of Nigeria for a Resident Electoral Commissioner to be arrested, detained and subjected to continuous harassment because the ruling party failed in the state where the electoral officer served,” Mr. Omare continued. “The IYC has it on good authority that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Okojie is facing similar treatment from President Buhari’s kinsman-led DSS. This is an abuse of office and threat to Nigerian’s democracy.”
"The IYC wishes to remind President Buhari that his resolved to persecute people from same place or close to former President Jonathan is a venture that would not do his administration any good.”