An officer of the State Security Service, Godwin Mba, has
revealed that cult groups and thugs spearheaded the violence
and carnage that characterised the April 11 governorship
election in Rivers State.



Mr. Mba, who led SSS’ detectives on election duty to Andoni
Local Government Area, told the Rivers State Election Petitions
Tribunal sitting in Abuja that the Peoples Democratic Party in
Rivers State worked closely with known cultists and thugs in
Andoni from the eve of the election till the announcement of
result.


The security officer, who took time to brief the Justice Suleman
Ambrosa-led panel, said the unlawful activities of the PDP on
election day was evident because the perpetrators of the
crimes are known people with affiliation to the PDP in the
various communities.


Mr. Mba, who mentioned a certain Ephraim Bara, leader of the
Iceland cult group and supporter of the PDP said other thugs
who acted with impunity did so because of the support from
the former ruling party.

He narrated his experiences to the tribunal and described the
election as a highly tainted exercise.


Mr. Mba said, “By my own assessment, the April 11
governorship election was characterised by violence,
intimidation, harassment and irregularities. This is so because
the thugs created an atmosphere of tension and some persons
who had wanted to vote stayed away. Even the ad hoc staff
had to run for safety.


“Let me say that shortly after voting commenced, we started
receiving reports of hijack of electoral materials by a cult group
known as Icelanders. At Ngo Ward 1, materials meant for the
election were carted away. At Ward 2, materials meant for the
ward was also hijacked by the same group. At Ward 6, we
received news of voter intimidation, particularly those
perceived to be members of other parties apart from the PDP.
“At a point, voters could not come out to vote for fear of
harassment and intimidation. We did our investigation and
discovered that the cult groups worked for PDP. The same
situation prevailed in other wards and units, and this adversely
affected the electoral process. And in the course of our work,
we also observed the absence of result sheets at wards 4, 6, 7
and 9.”


Similarly, another officer of the SSS, Benson Chukwuma, who
served in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of the state said
violence was widespread throughout the election.


However, he agreed that his men had been properly briefed
and according to him “warned to be careful because the place
is volatile due to the fact that it harbours many ex-militants”.
“On the eve of the election, we did our patrol round the local
government to make our presence felt,” Mr. Chukwuma said.
“Then in the morning, distribution of materials commenced.
After accreditation which was done manually, voting started.
Then suddenly, one of my colleagues told me that there were
threat indicators by unidentified thugs moving from place to
place.



“At Ward 9, Unit 6 and 8, attempts were made to cart away
electoral materials but it was resisted by the police and ad hoc
staff. Later, a card reader was snatched, the same thing
happened at other wards and units. Then they removed original
result sheets in three units.



“As soon as this happened, the violence started spreading in
all the wards. The police were helpless and then I quickly
contacted the military. But before then, we had noticed that the
INEC and ad hoc staff were threatened and scared. They felt so
intimidated that they had to carry their materials to a common
place to avoid being lynched.


“It was in this state of confusion at the local government
secretariat that those who announced the result arrived at the
figure they declared for the House of Assembly and
governorship.


“In a nutshell, the election was marked by intimidation,
snatching of electoral materials which did not give room to
smooth conduct of the election. There was also no collation, if
there was collation at all, there should be members of other
political parties in attendance, but it was not so”.


There were also other witnesses like Kamuzu Plankson of
Action Alliance Party, Marshal Jack and Somiare Ogolo who
gave graphic details of the violence, intimidation and deaths in
Asari-Toru, and Opobo Local Government Areas, among
others.



http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/189930-rivers-governorship-polls-cult-groups-thugs-worked-for-pdp-sss-officer-reveals.html

The most Annoying part is some frustrated and jobless fooools(WAILERS) here on nairaland are saying nothing will happen to WIKE,after every sane person know there was no free and fair election in rivers state. Thousands of people were killed and there blood will never go in vain.

GOD bless Nigeria.

Who no know say na pdp dey do am