Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has alleged that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to work with Internet service providers to shutdown Internet access during the forthcoming elections.
He said that the move would prevent real time communications to take place among stakeholders, including foreign bodies during the elections. Wike, who spoke at the Government House, Port Harcourt when Savannah Centre Council on Peaceful and Violence Free in Nigeria paid him a courtesy visit, however, said that the plot would fail. The governor noted that the conduct of free and fair elections rest squarely on INEC and security agencies, arguing that once both act within the law, elections will be credible.
He said: “The NSA has met with INEC to ensure that Internet service providers shutdown the Internet, so that foreign bodies won’t see what’s happening in the country during the elections.
“They will jam all the frequencies and Internet services to stop real time communication during the elections. “This plot to rig the forthcoming elections is a recipe for violence. They will not succeed in whatever they are planning. The world will be informed about their criminal activities.” The governor said that the negative actions of the Muhammadu Buhari administration indicate that they will not accept defeat when they lose the forthcoming elections.
He advised President Buhari to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan who placed Nigeria above personal consideration. “I don’t think this administration will willingly accept defeat. They should emulate former President Jonathan who lost elections and accepted the outcome. “There was no litigation. He went back home and did not generate crisis,” he said.
Wike said that Rivers people will not fold their hands and allow the Federal Government unleash violence and rig the 2019 elections, just as he regretted that the judiciary has been caged, making it difficult to determine electoral disputes in court. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Founder of Savannah Centre Council on Peaceful and Violence Free in Nigeria, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, urged stakeholders to work towards peaceful and credible polls.
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