Rivers residents express worry over rivalry among political parties

NAN-H-46

Politics

By Azubuike Okeh

Port Harcourt, Nov. 8, 2016(NAN) Residents of Port Harcourt in Rivers have expressed worry over unhealthy rivalry among political parties as December re-run election in the state draws near.

The residents expressed the concern in a survey carried out by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

They also expressed dismay that the politicians were overheating the polity through unhealthy rivalries which could discourage many people to participate actively in the December re-run election.

Mr Ndamzi Jikeji, a lawyer, said that politicians in the state had failed to comport themselves in a way that would promote harmony among the rival parties.

“The two visible parties in the state are All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); they have made some of us to lose interest in the entire system.

“The actions of the parties have made politics to look unsafe to some of us.
“From what I see, many will not be part of the re-run election in December,’’ he said.

Another resident, Miss Nnendah Jacobs, a student said that it seemed dangerous to identify openly with any of the political parties in the state.

According to her, many people now fear that they can be possibly attacked or arrested if they openly show their support for any party.

“The situation is just very scary, you can see that the two parties are ready to go physical against each other at any time,’’ she said.

Also speaking to NAN, Mr Mike Nchemini, a civil servant said that he may not vote during the Dec. 10, re-run election following the unhealthy rivalry among politicians in the state.

“I may decide to stay away from coming out to vote during the elections, I don’t see the parties as prepared to play the game according to the rules,’’ he said.(NAN)

AZU/DUA/MO/
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Morayo Omolade
===================