The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has called on the new State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Ogunsakin, to stop the attack on its members at registration centres.
The APC, who claimed that it lost one of its members during one of such attacks, accused the state Peoples Democratic Party of sponsoring thugs to disrupt the registration of its (APC) members in some parts of the state.
A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the State Interim Chairman of the APC, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, urged Ogunsakin to put an end to the violence allegedly being perpetrated by the PDP in Rivers.
The state APC also raised the alarm that some of its top leaders, including the Interim State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Tony Okocha, had been marked for elimination.
Explaining that the PDP was frustrated by its rejection by the people of the state, the state APC cautioned that it (PDP) should not plunge the state into chaos and deny the people their right to freedom of association.
“We hereby cry out to the new State Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Ogunsakin, to step in and decisively bring an end to this madness.
“While we understand PDP’s frustration at being roundly rejected by the people of Rivers State, this is surely not an excuse to plunge the state into chaos and rob the people of their constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of political association.
“Worst hit is Degema, where one Andy was shot dead while six other APC members were inflicted with bullet wounds and are currently hospitalised at BMH in Port Harcourt.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), we alerted the public about intelligence reports at our disposal, indicating that the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State and the Grassroots Development Initiative, the political machinery of PDP chieftain/Supervising Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike, had concluded plans to disrupt our membership registration exercise.
“Unfortunately, our appeals to GDI and PDP Rivers to have a rethink and give peace a chance have fallen on deaf ears as they have gone ahead to declare total war on the APC in Rivers State in their desperation to sabotage the on-going membership registration exercise in the state.”
The APC identified Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Degema and Ogu/Bolo as some of the areas where hoodlums allegedly working for the PDP attacked its members with various weapons.
“In PHALGA Wards 11, 14 and 16, one Vandam and one Noso led 50 other hoodlums to shoot sporadically and hijack the registration materials, handsets and cameras of APC registration officials.
“In Ward 9 in Obio/Akpor, the ward of Chief Nyesom Wike, hired thugs disrupted the registration exercise, beat up APC registration officers and hijacked registration materials.
“In Ward 6 in Woji, the area where Chief Timothy Nsirim is the chief executor of the war against APC, one Eric Nyekazi Chioma led the operation with 30 other thugs, shooting and chasing out our people.
“One of our key supporters, Chibuchi Ogbonda, who is now battling for life at DATTA Clinic, Port Harcourt, was also shot. Woji Ward comprises five big communities of Woji, Rumurolu, Rumuibekwe, Oginigba and Rumuogba,” the statement reads.
Reacting, the State PDP described the allegation against it as false, adding that the attack on APC members was as a result of an internal crisis in the party (APC).
Special Adviser to the State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Jerry Needam, said in a telephone interview with newsmen that the supremacy battle between Senator Magnus Abe and a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, was responsible for the attacks at some of the APC registration centres.
“It is not true; it is completely false. What is happening in the state APC is an internal fight between Senator Magnus Abe’s camp and the camp of Dakuku Peterside.
“The state PDP is made up of law abiding citizens of this state. If they (state government) say the PDP is responsible, let them show proof,” Needam added. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Hhhhhhhh na laf I dey laf APC how can thy APC say there internal problem is caused by the PDP so who caused that of the PDP.
ReplyDeletePropaganda party.
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous let's use our heads, how could internal crisis within APC affect the registration exercise to the extent of killing members? It is unthinkable.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfair; innocent people are suffering for all these senseless acts; this is a political party issues, make your house in order to get more votes by convincing people not with force. All these are not saying well about our country.
All these barbaric acts by so called Education minister; Wike Nyisom tell the whole world that we are uncoordinated.