US, UK governments react to widespread violence in Rivers rerun election

The United States of America and United Kingdom embassies in Nigeria, on Tuesday, condemned the outbreak of violence during Saturday Rivers State legislative rerun election in the state.

It would be recalled that the election was characterized by several reports of violence, electoral frauds and thuggery.

The two top parties in the country, All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), slammed each other with accusations of electoral malfeasance.

The embassies of the UK and USA, in separate statements, said the violence and the electoral irregularities during the election was completely condemnable and unacceptable.

The statement from the US government reads in part that: “We condemn the use of violence and disruptions of the democratic process. We call upon the leadership of Nigeria’s political parties to urge their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process. We call on those dissatisfied to pursue a resolution of their grievances peacefully in accordance with the rule of law.”

The British High Commission in Nigeria, in a statement by its spokesperson, Joe Abuku, said that the government of the UK was dismayed by the violence.

“UK observers in Rivers state saw irregularities around the voting and noted the low turn-out of voters at polling units which was in part a consequence of fear of violence.”

“The British High Commission urges the leadership of both major political parties to encourage their supporters in Rivers to behave peacefully and call on those still dissatisfied to pursue resolution of their grievances through the courts in accordance with the rule of law.”

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