Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has threatened those nursing
intent to rig the legislative rerun election, scheduled for December 10, to be
ready to face the consequences.
The governor, who
briefed the media, yesterday, at the Government House in Port Harcourt, on alleged arrest and recovery of sensitive
materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), allegedly
printed at Isiokpo Street, Port Harcourt, on Saturday, accused the electoral
agency, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the police of plotting to rig
the rerun election
in the state.
The people of
Rivers, said the governor, are prepared to resist such plot.
“If you rig this
election, you rig your life. If you like, bring American Marines here, we will
resist rigging in Rivers. Let the people make their own choices; INEC, should not take us for granted,” he said.
Wike also accused
the police of trying to destroy evidence of the illegal printing of INEC
sensitive materials and failing to prosecute those behind the illegal act. He
alleged it was due to pressure from Abuja and appealed to President Muhammadu
Buhari to intervene and ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted.
In a swift reaction,
Rivers APC accused the governor and the PDP of using thugs to stage, “bursting
of a fake result sheets printing syndicate in Port Harcourt.”
Publicity Secretary
of APC in the state, Mr. Chris Fineface said no APC person, chieftain or
ordinary member, was involved in any of the “purported actions as alleged by
Wike and the PDP, assuming without conceding that any such development took
place.”
“The APC would like
to unequivocally state that the party has zero-tolerance for electoral
malpractice and does not directly or indirectly engage in any form of electoral
malfeasance. We advise Rivers people and indeed Nigerians not to fall for
Wike’s antics deliberately contrived to tarnish the image of the APC and its members
in Rivers State,” he said.
The Police Public
Relations Officer, Mr. Nandi Omoni confirmed that “some persons were arrested
in connection with alleged printing of INEC sensitive materials” but did not
disclose the number of persons arrested. He only said the suspects were being
interrogated and added that the police would make their findings public.
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