The Rivers State chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others involved in Saturday’s rerun legislative elections have promised to play by the rules.
The parties spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, at a parley with Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police Sotonye Wakama, who vowed to deal with lawbreakers.
The meeting was attended by political leaders, candidates and other stakeholders.
The DIG (Operations) said political thugs hired from outside the state were being lodged in hotels in Government Reserve Area (GRA).
“We are not here to plead, beg, implore or request; we are here to tell you that should there be any problem, whoever/wherever it arises from, we are going to deal with that problem with the full force of our might and full force of law but within the framework of the law.
“Our intelligence has told us that certain troops, gangs, cultists, violent groups in certain places around Port Harcourt; some have been lodged into some hotels around here. More importantly, we know some of the sponsors of these troops.
“As from tomorrow (today), you will see some people locked up in our police cells.
“We are not begging anybody, just as I said earlier. If you like, come out with your arms, if your followers like let them come out with their machetes… they will now see what we will come out with, and I tell you, we will not be pitiful in dealing with anybody, no matter who the person is.
“We are bringing in a number of personnel here; they will be coming in today (yesterday). The equipment, helicopters, boats and other instruments will be deployed into the state for the polls.
“If the situation requires us to use 20 personnel on one person we shall do so.”