2019 Elections Important to EU, Says Dutch Envoy ...Wike Alleges FG Plans Use of Security to Disrupt Elections in Rivers, Akwa Ibom

The Ambassador of Netherlands  to Nigeria, Mr. Robert Petri, has said the European Union (EU) is interested in the conduct of the 2019 elections and would monitor the process to ensure compliance with standards.

This is as  Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared  that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, working  in liaison with security agencies, plan to disrupt 2019 Governorship Elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. 

Speaking in Port Harcourt yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Nyesom Wike,  the Dutch Ambassador, Petri, assured Nigerians that the European Union would closely monitor  the forthcoming  elections to ensure they are  credible. 

His words: "We are getting closer to the general election which are very important . We need free and fair elections conducted under a peaceful environment. 

"The European Union, which we are part of, will be sending monitors for the Presidential and Governorship Elections.  It is important that the elections are conducted in a friendly environment."

He also said the Government of Netherlands is interested in the clean up of Ogoni land.

In his remarks, Wike stated that the federal government plan is to mobilise its rigging security apparatus from all other states to the two states on a later date for the manipulation of the two strategic governorship elections.

The Rivers State governor urged the European Union to pay closer attention to the two elections. 

"When I raised the alarm that the federal government is plotting to plant 800 guns in Rivers State to destabilise the state, it is the truth. It is real. 

"The federal government working with the security agencies is planning to disrupt the 2019 governorship election in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.  They want to ensure that the elections don't hold with other states, so that they can mobilise security agencies to manipulate  the results", he said.

The governor noted that the international community must work with Nigerians  to ensure that what happened  in Osun State is not repeated in the Niger Delta. 

Wike said if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Police could allow 55 per cent free and fair elections, Nigerians would be happy. 

"As members of the European Union, we want you to use your position to prevail on INEC and security agencies to allow the will of the people. 

"Manipulating the electoral process is corruption.  This administration  claims  that it is fighting corruption, but that is not true. When a PDP member defects, the issue of corruption  against him ends", he said.

The governor stated that the president has refused to sign the amended Electoral Act because they have ulterior motive.

On the clean up of Ogoni,  Wike regretted that the APC federal government has politicised  the exercise, which is only thrown up during elections.