Why we may not vote in December rerun election – Rivers residents

Residents of Port Harcourt in Rivers State have expressed worry over unhealthy rivalry among political parties as the 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 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 10 re-run election.
Ndamzi Jikeji, a lawyer, said politicians in the state had failed to comport themselves in a way that would promote harmony among the rival parties.
Jikeji said: “The two visible parties in the state are All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party.
“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.”
Another resident, Nnendah Jacobs, a student, said it seemed dangerous to identify openly with any of the political parties in the state.
According to Jacobs, many people now fear that they can be possibly attacked or arrested if they openly show their support for any party.
She said: “The situation is just very scary.
“You can see that the two parties are ready to go physical against each other at any time.”
Also speaking to NAN, Mike Nchemini, a civil servant, said he may not vote during the December 10, re-run election following the unhealthy rivalry among politicians in the state.
Nchemini said: “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.”
NAN.