Barely 48 hours to the long awaited conclusion of the rescheduled legislative rerun elections in parts of Rivers State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says it has uncovered plans to sabotage the election.
The PDP has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the connivance of security agencies, of plans to hijack and swap the original result sheets for fake ones during the Saturday, December 10, 2016 election.
The statement by its Rivers State Chapter Chairman, Felix Obuah and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam alleged that the agreement was sealed in a secret meeting between the State leadership of the APC, security agents and the electoral body at the residence of one of the APC’s chieftains in Port Harcourt.
The statement noted that no decision was reached at their first meeting owing to INEC’s insistence on involvement of security agents to perfect the deal.
The statement further said that certain persons hired and equipped for the assignment will cause crisis in each of the collation centres to enable the security agents come in under the pretext to calm the situation and while the melee lasts, the fake INEC result sheets would be substituted for the genuine ones.
The Rivers State PDP chairman, Obuah has therefore warned against any attempt to scuttle what he described as the “last opportunity to settle the election issues in the state” by taking sides in the election or indulging in acts that will cause crisis in the state.
According to him, all PDP agents have been asked to be peaceful, law-abiding but to insist that the right is done and never to be intimidated by anybody.
“Let me restate that we are ready for this election having campaigned adequately, demonstrated that we have all it takes to give our people quality leadership through Governor Nyesom Wike’s landmark achievements in one and half years which our good people of Rivers State have seen and acknowledged and are willing to reciprocate by filing out in their numbers on Saturday to confirm.
“We will not therefore take it kindly with any act, overtly or covertly aimed to ridicule Saturday’s exercise.
“May I also enjoin the INEC and the security agencies to caution their staff and personnel to allow peace reign in Rivers State by being fair and unbiased in this all important election,” the State PDP boss declared.
Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Aniedi Ikoiwak, has equally given the assurance that the commission is ready for the polls.
It was not the first time the commission would make the pledge to ensure that the December 10, Rivers Rerun elections, would be free, fair and violence free.
There have been series of allegations by the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike, who has said INEC, as well as security agencies have planned to rig the elections.
