The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) levelled allegations against each other in yesterday’s State and National elections reruns.
As early as 7:20am, PDP chairman in Rivers, Felix Obuah, alleged that agents of the federal government have bought in N5billion to Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to rig the elections.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, Obuah called on the international community and relevant security agencies to investigate the release and distribution of the alleged N5billion.
By 8: 46 am, the PDP called on the Rivers people to resist any form of intimidation, shooting and arrests by fake SARS personnel.
PDP leadership called on their supporters to resist any form of intimidation and arrest by fake SARS personnel deployed by the It accused the Rivers State SARS Commander, Akin Fakorede, of seeking to manipulate the exercise in favour of the APC.
The APC leadership in Emohua led by Hon. Lucky Worluh also accused PDP of intimidating its supporters in the area.
He also alleged that PDP in the state recruited jobless youths, giving them N50,000 each, AK47 and military camouflage to shoot during the re-run election.
Worluh said: “Wike is busy rising alarm and calling on his supporters to cause problem in the state.
“He wants to cause distraction but we are going to resist him. Those thugs he recruited cannot have their way in this area we are here to cast our votes.”
These allegations and counter allegations however did not go down well with some of the political supporters in various wards and units.
By 10: 30 am, when electoral materials started moving to various units, a group of youths from Port Harcourt City Local government, Khana, Etche, Eleme and Ahoada took to the street to protest their against perceived manipulations in the exercise.
Some of the protesters, who identified themselves as supporters of PDP, said they were kicking against distribution of fake elections materials to their wards and units.
One of the protesters Emeka Onu, who spoke to newsmen said, “We are supporters of PDP in the state we are here to protest against fake result sheets distributed to different Local government like Emohua, Ikwerre, Gokana, Tai, Khana, Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Area, (ONELGA) Ogo/Bolo, Asari Toru and Ahoada-West Local Governments.
“We are going to resist any form of intimidation by the federal government who is using the Minister of Transport to rig the rerun election in the state. Our leaders gave us the assurance to protest and resist any things inimical to electoral law.”
Amaechi, the immediate governor of the state, voted in his home town ward 8, unit 14, Ubima community in Ikwerre Local government area of Rivers State at about 12: 15pm.
He told reporters that some alleged PDP thugs in the area have intimidated voters and carted away electoral materials.
There were cases of ballot box snatching in some of the units in Ikwerre local government area.
In ward 8, unit 8 in Ubima community, gunmen believed to be working with PDP leaders in the areas snatched electoral materials.
The Rivers State Public Relations Officer, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ahmad Mohammad yesterday confirmed some of the arrests.
He however denied the alleged explosion in some part of the state.
He said: “We have arrested two suspects at Choba axis of the state with result sheets, we have handed them over to Special Crime Investigation Department (SCID) for more investigation.
“We have also arrested some suspects at Ogali Eleme in Eleme Local government area and other oart of the state.
At Abual/Odual local government, there were reports of inducement of voters with money.
A native of Abual, Mr. Ella Johnson, who spoke to newsmen said: “My brother we are collecting N2000 each here. In fact, that was what made some of us to come out because as of 10 am when the money bag men have not come there was no body in the polling units.”
In Ogoni axis, there were pockets of violence and protests against fake electoral materials.
In Etche and Umuma local government areas, there were reports that majority of the wards in the area did not receive electoral materials.
But by 3pm, a report was received that a place in Etche like Okomoko, Umuhiagu, Okehi and others just got their election materials.
One of the PDP party agents in the area, Mr. Chiwendu Nkwoala said: “This is five minutes to 3pm. INEC has not brought any material to this ward 10, unit 1.
“We are not voting; we are not ready to vote again. Whoever that took the materials made for my ward should go home with it.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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