The All Progressive Congress is still complaining about
the political climate in Rivers state.
On Sunday, the party accused security operatives and
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
of plotting to rig Saturday’s governorship and state
assembly elections in favour of the candidate of Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Nyesom Wike.
According to the APC’s National Publicity Secretary of
the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who called a news
conference in Abuja, his party had enough evidence to
implicate INEC and security operatives in Rivers in a ring
aimed at rigging the elections in favour of the PDP.
Here are our top takes from Mr Mohammed’s
comments.
The APC lacks ‘capacity’ to rig elections
“We have lost 55 persons so far in the run-off to this
election. The APC does not have the capacity nor the
will to frustrate election. You all saw what happened in
Rivers State during the last election.”
The INEC in Rivers has a reading problem
“If you did not see anything, at least you saw when the
Returning Officer was asked to read the results, he could
not, because it was not written by him.”
Term of the day – the rule of law
“Our party is a party that believes in the Rule of Law.
They have the police, the Department of State Security
(DSS) and INEC. They have these three groups which
they are using to subvert democracy in Rivers State.
Everyday, they are killing our people and nobody is being
held responsible.
The state is drenched in blood…
“Last week, nine members of our party were killed in
cold blood, while many others were injured, when armed
thugs invaded Obrikom and Obor communities in Ogba/
Egbema/Ndoni local government of Rivers State.
“These same thugs set ablaze the residence of Vincent
Ogbagu, our candidate for the House of Assembly
elections.”
…and police action
“Dozens of our members have been arrested on frivolous
charges, just to put them away. At least, four persons
were arrested just because they defected to our party.
“APC members have been subjected to persistent
harassment and intimidation across the state, using the
Police in Rivers and the Zone Six in Calabar. Over 150
prominent members have been victims of this
unprovoked persecution.”
And, INEC was both culprit and witness
“Unfortunately, the violence targeted at APC members in
Rivers, especially during the last elections, was carried
out in the full glare, and in most cases, with the
connivance of INEC officials in the state.
“Of course, it is needless to say that the collusion of
INEC with the PDP and the police to pave the way for
unbridled violence against APC members and
supporters, and the subsequent rigging of the elections,
was spearheaded by the Resident Electoral
Commissioner (REC), Ms. Gesilia Khan.”

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liar mohammed

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