The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has been accused of plotting with security agencies to kidnap the state’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The state governor, Nyesom Wike, made the allegation against APC and the security agents, claiming that the plot was to ensure the postponement of the governorship and State Assembly elections in the state.
APC has no candidate for any elections in the state due to court rulings.
However, the governor claims that the party was doing everything possible to frustrate the March 9 election in the state, and that the State Government had already intercepted credible intelligence that the APC wants to use the security agencies to generate mass violence to disrupt the distribution of election materials on the day of the election.
This was contained in a statement the governor released through Simon Nwakudu, his S.A. on electronic media.
“They are struggling to ensure that the governorship and State Assembly elections don’t hold in Rivers State.
“The APC is planning with security agencies to kidnap the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission REC.
“They will send people wearing army uniforms to kidnap the Resident Electoral Commissioner so that INEC will be forced to postpone the elections.
“That is their latest strategy and so I have to let the world hear that if anything happens, they should hold the APC and security services responsible.
“These people are not kidnappers; they are security agents organised by security agencies working for APC to see that the Governorship and State Assembly elections don’t hold in Rivers state.
“These security agencies have been organised to ensure that the elections are postponed. This ugly plan has failed. I am calling on Nigerians to take note of this undemocratic plot.
“We have also gathered that the APC and security agencies plan to disrupt the distribution of electoral materials and compel INEC to postpone the Governorship and State Assembly elections,” the statement read.
The governor wondered why some politicians are keen on unleashing violence on Rivers people.
He therefore called on the people of Rivers West Senatorial District to be vigilant all through the elections for the purpose of ensuring that the polls hold in line with the extant laws.
