By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT— Rivers State  Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gecila Khan, has reiterated her stand that the last general elections in the state were devoid of violence.

Khan, at her office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, shortly after she bagged three merit awards from three different organisations, said that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, thoroughly sensitised youths of the state against electoral violence before the elections.

She regretted that some persons who were aware of this still went out manufacturing stories to discredit the successful conduct of the elections in the state by INEC.

FILE PHOTO: All Progressives Congress (APC) party supporters march towards the Independent National Electoral Commission Office in Port Harcourt during a demonstration calling for the cancellation of the Presidential elections in the Rivers State on March 29, 2015. 
AFP PHOTO

Meantime, Publicity secretary, All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Mr Chris Finebone, has insisted that the state witnessed unprecedented electoral violence during the last general elections.

While thanking youths of the state for shunning violence in the state during the polls, Dame Khan said the sensitisation programme against violence embarked upon by the state chapter of INEC put a lot of strain on her.

While thanking the various groups for recognising her efforts and those of other members of the commission, she enjoined youths of the state to turn down any offer to indulge in acts of violence.

Rivers Vision, League of Niger Delta Journalists and Orashi Like Minds conferred separate awards on Dame Khan for successfully conducting peaceful polls in Rivers State.