Soldiers stopped us from monitoring Rivers elections - EU observers

The European Union Observation Mission to Nigeria says soldiers barred them from monitoring elections in Rivers State.

The observers made the allegation in their preliminary report in Abuja on Monday.

Addressing journalists, the Chief Observer, Maria Arena, noted that they came to Nigeria on the invitation of INEC to monitor the elections and make recommendations.

Arena, who is a member of the EU Parliament, however, faulted the elections.

She said, “Observers, including EU observers, were denied access to collation centres in Rivers, apparently by military personnel. This lack of access for observers compromises transparency and trust in the process.

“In Rivers, INEC suspended until further notice the elections due to violence in polling units and collation centres, staff being taken hostage and election materials, including results sheets, seized or destroyed by unauthorised persons.

“There is no doubt that the electoral process there was severely compromised.”

Punch