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Rivers residents worry over abduction of candidates hours to election

By Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt
17 March 2023   |   3:24 am
Rivers State residents have condemned the abduction of party candidates barely 24 hours to the 2023 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

Rivers State residents have condemned the abduction of party candidates barely 24 hours to the 2023 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The residents, in interviews, said the development was increasing tension in the state and may spur voter apathy as some voters will be scared to come out on Saturday to exercise their franchise.

Recall that the Accord Party candidate for Ogba Egbema Ndoni Council of the state, Osita Nwachuku; the APC Secretary in Ikwere Council, Amadi Osorame, among others, were abducted by gunmen.

A resident and a businessman, Mathew Ndu, said: “The situation in Rivers State is unfortunate, people are just playing politics of bitterness, seeing other candidates as threats. This will definitely affect the election turnout because residents, whose candidates are abducted, will be discouraged from coming out.”

Similarly, a lawyer, Angus Obinna Chukwuka, decried the abductions. He said elections should not be seen as war and urged party candidates to eschew bitterness, desperation and give room for free and fair elections.

An electrician at Mile One, Diobu Port Harcourt, described the kidnappings as very unfortunate. He called politicians to be tolerant and give room for peaceful poll.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the State, Magnus Ngei Abe, has called on the people of the state to unite and come together to build a state that will be beneficial, profitable and conducive for all.

Abe made the call, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, shortly after he was conferred with a chieftaincy title by the traditional ruler of Igbo Community in Rivers and Bayelsa states, Eze Innocent Maduagwu.

He lauded the Igbo community for their contributions to the development of Rivers and Bayelsa states, saying the Igbo have invested their lives, their materials and their resources in the development of the two states.

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