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•Claims party lost 4 members, 2 still missing
From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Rivers State, has described the Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state as electoral banditry.
State chairman of APC, Emeka Beke and spokesman, Darlington Nwauju, while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, in reaction to Governor Nyesom Wike’s recent media chat, said the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) did not win the last elections, but stole the mandate of the people through security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The spokesman, Nwauju, who read the statement of party, said the “infamous broadcast” showed how he (Wike) planned the operations and the marching order he gave against each prominent politicians in the state.
He stated that the governorship and House of Assembly elections on March 18, 2023, was between the All Progressives Congress (APC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police and PDP.
He said: “Last Saturday election in Rivers State was between APC and INEC, the Police and Gov. Wike’s PDP. There was no election in the real sense of it. INEC and the Police brazenly worked together to install Gov Wike’s PDP candidates as winners of the election.
“As a party, we have repeatedly raised the alarm about how Governor Wike, using State resources that belong to Rivers people, to compromise key institutions like INEC and the Police.
“What happened on Saturday was a systemic institutionalized rigging of the elections by Gov. Wike with the supposed umpire, INEC and the police actively doing the bidding of Gov Wike.
Speaking further, Nwauju alleged that four members of the party were killed and two still missing
during the governorship and House of Assembly polls in Ahoada West.
“For the avoidance of doubts, Nigerians are invited to note that the following members of the APC, Rivers State chapter, lost their lives in Ahoada West LGA alone on the 18th of March, 2023; Esor Godspower Ajahu, Ward 10, Unit 01; Chiosom Lennard Tabele, Ward 10 Unit 02 – LGA Cordinator; Okpara Chienyere – Unit 01 Ward 10; and Goodnews Michael Okpara – Anakpo community Ward 8 Unit 5
and two persons still missing in this LGA.
“Then, a part of his interview had him shockingly downplay the death of the Campaign Coordinator of the APC gubernatorial campaign at Ahoada West and others who were brutally murdered on election day for choosing to exercise their franchise and defending their votes against the marauding PDP rigging machinery which was unleashed across the state in order to foist his lackey who has not been able to explain to Rivers people how N117 billion of taxpayer’s money was withdrawn in cash across the counter.”
The party’s Publicity Secretary maintained that the Rivers governor has relationship with the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and there was an “unholy alliance” between them.
“Governor Wike’s weak and feeble attempt to distance himself from the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu failed woefully. No amount of spin can change the facts Nigerians know, which is that; there exists an unholy alliance between Governor Wike and the INEC chairman.
“The events of 2023 bear resemblance with the yet-to-be investigated killings of APC members in 2015 and during the 2016 re-run elections in Rivers State.
“May we remind Nigerians that the event of March 18th and 19th 2023, which witnessed the suppression of votes, bypass of BVAS, intimidation of voters, outright violence and brutal killings in Rivers State which clearly violates Section 125 and 128 of the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended), can never be forgotten or swept under the carpet by a million broadcasts.
“The APC in Rivers State wish to state that the two elections held on the 25th February and 18th March 2023, signpost our beloved Rivers State as the poster boy of electoral evil for which even foreign governments have warned about a likely slide to God knows where!
“We restate that what has happened in the state in the last two elections amounts to pyrrhic victories obtained through Order 23, which is an unwritten marching order to local government council chairmen to return Governor Wike’s anointed candidate or get sacked.”
The APC spokesman, however, said the party has not conceded to victory, but would challenge the outcome of the election at the tribunal.
