Niger Delta Militants threaten to cause violence if 2019 elections are rigged
- The umbrella body of militants groups in the Niger-Delta, Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators (CNDA), has vowed to cause violence if elections in the region are rigged.
- The militants also called on security agencies not to aid the manipulation of votes during the elections
- The spokesman of the group, John Duku said that they will monitor the proceedings in polling units across the South-South region
Ahead of the February 16 presidential poll, the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators (CNDA), has vowed to resist any attempt to impose President Muhammadu Buhari on Nigeria, declaring that the people of the region will not support the president’s re-election bid, The Punch reports.
Legit.ng gathered that the umbrella body of militant groups in the Niger Delta, warned that the 2019 general election would be bloody should anybody or security agents attempt to rig the polls in the Niger Delta region.
The militant groups subsequently in the region have perfected plans to deploy their men in polling units across the South-South geopolitical zones.
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The coalition, comprises of Niger Delta Avengers, Niger Delta Volunteers, Bakassi Strike Force and Niger Delta Warriors. Others are Niger Delta Peoples Fighters, Bakassi Freedom Fighters, Niger Delta Movement for Justice and Niger Delta Fighters Network.
John Duku, the convener of the coalition group, said: “We have sensitised our members and affiliates on how and who to vote, come February 16, 2019. I also want to assure you that our men would be on the ground in all the polling units across the Niger Delta region.
“If we notice any attempt to rig election by anyone, including the security agents, it shall be bloody. Let people vote (according to) their conscience and let the vote of the people count.’’
“We want to assure you that President Buhari will not return in 2019 except INEC compromises election results. Buhari has neglected the Niger Delta people to the extent that we would have reacted in a very negative way if not for our elders and leaders who continuously calmed us down.
“Our brother, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, accepted defeat and handed over to Buhari; I implore Buhari to toe the path of honour and do same.”
Meanwhile, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), a group headed by Chief Edwin Clarke, declared that it had begun an alliance with other regions on the need to ensure that only presidential candidates, who are in support of restructuring, would get the people’s votes.
The secretary general PANDEF, Dr. Alfred Mulade, in an interview on Thursday, January 17, that since President Buhari was not in support of restructuring, he would not enjoy the votes of the Niger Delta people.
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Legit.ng previously reported that in what was seen as a setback for the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), a political movement started by Shehu Yar’Adua declared support for President Buhari.
Atiku, who is now in America on a foreign campaign, has always regarded Yar’Adua as his mentor and leader.
But the founding chairman of the PDM, Dr Farouk Abdulaziz led other executives to declare support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s candidacy. Among the delegates was the current chairman, Senator Abubakar Mahdi.
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Source: Legit.ng