By Douglas Blessing
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state have called for the cancellation of the March 18, 2023 governorship and State House of Assembly in the state over irregularities, violence, murder and alleged manipulation of election results.
This call was made yesterday, by the governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers, Arch Tonye Cole, during a press briefing in Port Harcourt.
Speaking on the outcome of the Saturday elections in the state, the APC standard bearer said it was another black day for Nigeria’s democracy, while condemning “the hijack and
announcement of rigged results with the imposition of PDP candidates as Governor and House of Assembly members across all LGAs in the State”.
According to Cole: “The last couple of days have been filled with ambivalence. Signs of hope, swiftly changing to fear, grief and agony. The resolve of the Rivers State people to come out and exercise their right to elect their preferred leaders, amidst huge threats and intimidation by the ruling party in the State; shows hope for our land; but the blatant disrespect for human rights, freedom of choice and lives of citizens, echoes the sad tale of a conquered people.
“Elections are meant to reflect the peoples will, not hijacked and stolen mandates. Instead of this election being a test of the candidates popularity, it turned out to be a rape of democracy.
“Law abiding citizens were subjected to flogging, verbal abuse, and threat to life for choosing to vote APC. People were told to vote for PDP and nothing else. This is not democracy
“Thanks to technology, the whole world saw what happened in our State. From live clips on TV stations, to videos circulating social media, the show of shame was evidently loud. As a party,
we ensured our campaigns were issue based, and our strategy was without violence. I wish I could say the same for the PDP in Rivers State.
“To secure a stolen mandate, the PDP aggressively intimidated the non-indigenes in the State leading to apathy and low voter turnout. Those who braved the threats to turn up at the polling units were subjected to flogging in some cases and vote buying in many others”.
He informed that “As soon as elections ended and votes counted, an obviously well planned and coordinated armed hijack of election materials, as well as electoral officers statewide began. No local government
was spared.
“That the shameful act of hijack of materials and personnel was done with the active participation of some bad eggs in the Nigeria Police Force is beyond understanding.
“Citizens who attempted to resist the hijack of election materials, were brutalized and in some cases, eliminated. The sad tale of the brutal murder of our Ahoada West LGA Coordinator, Chisom Lennard and 2 others in his community will haunt me for life!
“To think that up to 11 lives have been lost in this charade, including a youth corper serving on national duty as an INEC adhoc staff in Abua/Odual, is depressing. One life lost is one too many. No one deserved to die”.
The regretted that “Hon Charles Anyanwu and Emeka Edeh, both House of Assembly candidates were arrested and detained in police custody on the day of their election while Hon. Napoleon Ukalikpe was kidnapped.
“This followed a pattern established in the National Assembly Election when Hon. Ephraim Nwuzi was arrested, detained, and charged to court. He is still locked up as we speak. These are but a
few of the many others likewise put on a wanted list by the Governor and arrested.
“This was not an election, but a thievery and imposition by Governor Wike, aided by INEC and some men of the Nigerian
Police Force. How very obviously mutilated result sheets can be accepted in wholesale volumes, with figures at variance with unit results in the possession of our agents across all LGAs is very frightening.
“It exposes the complicity of INEC collation officers and others expected to uphold the integrity of INEC to the grand plot of stealing the mandate of the people.”
He therefore challenged the outcome of the elections and demanded for an immediate cancellation of the elections. “We will use all avenues provided by
the law to ensure the people of Rivers State get what they deserve”.
