A former Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has denied reports suggesting that he used police officers to attack protesters.
His comments come after the All Progressives Congress conducted its ward congress in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
“As early as 6 am, I gathered information that thugs had taken over the secretariat of APC. Despite the fact that the APC had invited them to protect the property, they find it difficult to,” he said.
Amaechi, who is also a Minister for Transportation, accused a party member joining the governorship race for allegedly using thugs to disrupt the exercise.
He further challenged the undisclosed member to purchase the governorship form and thereafter compete with other aspirants in the wards.
Amaechi added, “So what a governorship candidate wants to do is that there should not be any congress. So you took over that secretariat with thugs. About 3 pm, the police had to force themselves in for people to sell and purchase forms.
“If that candidate is popular, why not get your supporters to buy your forms and go compete in the wards.”
According to the minister, the party invited the police to beef up security. He, however, regretted that despite the police presence, the attack still took place.
“Did they come, yes but they did not do anything. Meanwhile, the party needed to sell forms to anybody who was interested.”
