The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AAC

  • Tonye Cole, Accord Party assembly candidates call for fresh election in Rivers

    RIVERS State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain,  Tonye Cole and Accord Party assembly candidates have called for fresh a governorship and legislative election in the state.

    They alleged that many controversies have trailed the March 9 exercise, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  to organise a fresh poll. Affirming the lack of confidence in the system by the two major parties involved in the contest, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Action Congress (AAC), Cole said any result emerging from the March 9 poll will not be acceptable to the losing party.

    He (Cole)  was however silent on what will be his involvement in a fresh election in his statement titled: “A plea for righteous intervention in Rivers State.” Noting the mutual suspicion between the two parties and the acrimony triggered by the contest, Cole pleaded for a fresh start under heavy security to guarantee the will of the people.

    He said: “If there is one thing that I am certain of, it is that the entire election of March 9 is totally and completely compromised from head to toe. There are no results that would be announced today that would reflect the will of the people in any form or manner.

    “There are just as many people who do not trust and will not accept an election that delivers PDP today because of the belief that the umpire has granted unfettered access to the result sheets and a yeoman’s job has been done on the collated results that is guaranteed to withstand any scrutiny through the Election Tribunals or any court of law thereafter just as there are as many people who will not accept a result that delivers the AAC because of the belief that the election day results were structured to favour them by the direct involvement of the military as insinuated by the PDP. “INEC must, therefore, declare the entire elections of March 9 null and void and set out a new date for fresh elections.

    Read also: DSS denies working against electoral process in Rivers

    “This time around, there are no distractions left and every eye is upon Rivers State now.” Speaking yesterday in Port –Harcourt, the Accord Party assembly candidates said the call for fresh election followed the confirmation that the March 9, exercise was characterized by violence which affected the holding of the polls. In a communiqué presented by the group’s spokesman, Duke Alamboye, the candidates called on INEC to set up a new date for fresh governorship and house of assembly elections in the state, within the stipulated time as approved by the Electoral Law.

    Alamboye who contested to represent  Akuku-Toru State Constituency II also called for the redeployment of Obo Effanga, the Resident Electoral Commissioner “and other critical staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC who participated and were involved in the March 9 election in Rivers State, especially given the fact that they have been victims of the intimidations, harassments, abductions and hostage situations they were exposed to during the elec tion.” “We also state clearly, that we have completely disregarded any earlier declared results in connection with the March 9, polls in Rivers State, as these figures are products contrived from very faulty processes, which have rendered them inchoate and unreliable.”

  • Tension, drama as anti, pro-Wike protesters clash in Rivers

    THE tension in Rivers State occasioned by the non-conclusion of the governorship election heightened yesterday after a clash between supporters and antagonists of Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Thousands of anti-Wike protesters, under the aegis of Amalgamation of Civil Society Organisations (A-CSOs) were confronted  by Wike supporters in front of the Polo Club at new Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt where they had gathered to commence a protest march to the nearby office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Members of A-CSOs were protesting alleged collaboration between some INEC officials and the state government.

    They claimed that both sides planned to doctor results of the March 9 governorship and state assembly elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The protest was in defiance of a ban slammed on protests and rallies by the state government. Leader of the A-CSOs Dr. Jackson Omenazu said the ban had no place in a democracy and was unconstitutional.

    He called for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Obo Effanga, and the Administrative Secretary, Elder Etim Umoh, of INEC in Rivers state for openly taking sides with Wike and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But before they could move to the INEC office, PDP members, who were mobilised from the 23 local government areas of the state, including Jerry Needam, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the state Chairman of the party (PDP),  stormed the main gate of the expansive facility and confronted the anti-Wike protesters.

    Read also: Tonye Cole, Accord Party assembly candidates call for fresh election in Rivers

    The protesters decided to change course, moving towards GRA Junction on Aba Road amidst abusive songs directed at Transportation Minister and All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in the state, Mr.Rotimi Amaechi, and the governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara. A police team soon arrived the scene, blocked the protesters from advancing towards INEC office and fired teargas to disperse them. As the protesters scampered for their lives, they ran into the PDP supporters and a fight ensued. The policemen advanced on the Wike supporters too and fired teargas at them.

    The teargas quickly spread to nearby houses, offices, schools and shops leaving innocent residents as victims. The state government announced the ban on protests and rallies on Thursday night, saying it was in the interest of public peace and order. But the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday dismissed the order as an absurdity. The state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Chris Finebone in a reaction said: “We believe that Wike, who authorised the ban, is unaware that Rivers people and indeed Nigerians have an inalienable right to peaceful protests. “Perhaps, the Rivers governor should be reminded that Hon. Justice Adekeye (rtd.), then of the Supreme Court, once stated that: ‘A rally or placard-carrying demonstration has become a form of expression of views on current issues affecting government and the governed in a sovereign state.

    It is a tread recognised and deeply entrenched in the system of governance in civilised countries. We must borrow a leaf from those who have trekked the rugged path of democracy and are now reaping the dividend of their experience.’ “Rivers State APC is wondering why Wike would fritter a good chunk of the commonwealth of Rivers people on frivolous protests and in less than 24 hours, after the last of those protests, pronounce a ban on protests. The reason can only be that those protesting on the opposite side are now providing Rivers people and Nigerians better perspectives on the happenings in Rivers.

    The state governor is simply acting like someone with a weak and incoherent argument against the more coherent, sensible and logical argument of the opponent. “Another reason for the ineffectual ban is to scuttle further exposure of the ills and atrocities of the Rivers government under Wike, who believes that pensioners, civil servants, workers of Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority and others may soon protest their abandonment and suffering by the governor, since he accidentally got to power on May 29, 2015.

  • Rivers: AAC guber candidate protest alteration of results in Rivers

    Ahead of the planned resumption of collation of results in Rivers state, the Governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) , Engr. Biokpomabo Awara has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of doctoring the governorship and state House of Assembly election in Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers state in favour of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Awara said in a petition addressed to the Chairman of INEC, dated 22nd March, 2019 in the originally declared result from the polling units, ward and local government collation centre, the AAC clearly won the election in the local government with a large margin.

    Awara objected to what he called alteration of results and outright concoction of results going on in the state and plans to officially announce the concocted results as official results.

    The letter made available to The Nation in Abuja reads “may we by this letter establish and convey our objection to the alteration, and outright concoction of results, and the threat to announce the same as officially declared results from the 9th of March, 2019, Governorship and House of Assembly Election in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State.

    Read Also: Rivers: Lulu-Briggs wants Governorship, Assembly polls cancelled

    “Sir, despite the fear of violence sequel to the horror that characterized the Presidential Election that was cancelled, the people came out in hordes to vote, and the election was as successful as it could possibly be.

    “For the first time in a long while, Akuku-Toru LGA experienced a peaceful election. At the end of the election, the results were counted and declared at the various units, wards and eventually collated at the LGA Collation Centre, and subsequently declared by the LGA Returning Officer. The process was recorded and broadcast LIVE at the Collation Centre and reported widely on Social Media.

    “In the originally collated and declared Governorship election result from Akuku-Toru, the AAC scored 57,856 votes while the PDP scored 5,953. The vote difference between the AAC and the PDP was 51,903.

    “The results as declared was accordingly taken to the Rivers State INEC Office and submitted by the Returning Officer.

    “Sir, we have credible reason to believe that the election results from Akuku-Toru LGA has been unilaterally altered by the Returning Officer, Dr Somiari Ikiroma-Owiye who we were reliably informed was invited by senior officials of INEC Rivers State on the 11th of March, 2019, and in cooperation with the PDP strategically altered the results – reducing the votes in favour of the AAC to less than 37,000 and inflating the votes in favour of the PDP in excess of 15,000.

    “Sadly, this was alleged to have been perpetrated in the privacy of his collusion with elements from the PDP and most disappointingly, INEC Rivers State without the presence of our Party agents.

    “We are by this Petition urging you to use your good office to investigate the substance of our fears and institute criminal charges against Dr Somiari Ikiroma-Owiye, and prevent the eventuation of this unacceptable electoral fraud.

    “Also, we urge the INEC to only honour and give effect to the Governorship result that was appropriately collated and declared on the 10th of March, 2019 at the Collation Centre and broadcast LIVE at the Collation Centre and reported widely on social media. Nothing short of this can meet the test of credibility, and be acceptable to us.”

  • Rivers AAC’s deputy chairman defects to PDP

    Rivers State Deputy Chairman of African Action Congress (AAC), Amezhinim Atuma, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    His defection took place barely 72 hours after deputy governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers State, Chief Akpo Yeeh, also joined the PDP.

    Atuma, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, announced his resignation and defection.

    Atuma, who tore his membership card of AAC, claimed his decision to quit the AAC was necessitated by his commitment to the advancement of the democratic interest of Rivers and the peace of people of the state.

    Atuma claimed that he could no longer in good conscience associate with the AAC/All Progressives Congress (APC) alliance, which only interest, he alleged was to unleash mayhem on Rivers people through the use of security forces.

    He said: “As at March 27, 2019, every arrangement has been made to disrupt the collation and announcement of the governorship and House of Assembly elections’ results, as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) between April 2 and 5, 2019.

    “There are plans to cause bloodshed, leading to total breakdown of law and order between April 1 and 5, 2019.

    “This is in furtherance of their plan to create a state of emergency in Rivers State, wherein Governor Wike’s term in office would have expired.

    “The petition filed against the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Rivers State, Mr. Obo Effanga, and the Chairman of the electoral commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, by the defeated AAC’s governorship candidate (Awara) contains the same false allegations with his suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja.”

    He also claimed that the content of the affidavit sworn to by Yeeh was true.

    Atuma claimed that from available data from AAC agents, the 2019 governorship election in Rivers was won by Wike and lost by Awara.

    He said: “Our (AAC’s) party agents inundated us with information from across Rivers State that the PDP won the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    “There is a sinister plot by members of the AAC and APC to rig the 2019 elections in Rivers State and subvert the will of Rivers people.”

    But Rivers Publicity Secretary of APC, Chris Finebone, declared the bribe-induced defection of Atuma was despicable.

    Read also: ‘Wike never offered AAC’s guber candidate N3b to drop ambition’

    Finebone said: “No one should be surprised. In a state where the government is said to be government of one man, by one man and for one man, the people are bound to suffer poverty of the worst type.

    “In almost four years of Wike, Rivers people have become so impoverished that a meal a day is a major challenge.

    “So, if Rivers governor has chosen to dangle baits at AAC members to abandon their mandate, it should not really be a surprise.

    “Wike dangled N3 billion at Engr. Biokpomabo Awara, the AAC’s governorship candidate, and he (Awara) turned it down.

    “Then, the governor turned to the deputy governorship candidate (Yeeh)  with N200 million and got his (Awara’s) man.

    “This time, the deputy chairman has also swallowed the bait and jumped ship. It might just be that Wike might be the loser at last, while those he bribed feel they had to survive, though in exchange with their conscience. It is despicable.”

  • Okorocha on his own on non-issuance of certificate of return, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday reacted for the first time to the decision of the independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) not to issue certificate of return to Imo state Governor Rochas okorocha.

    It said the party has no official position on the issue since the governor is still under suspension.

    National publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa- Onilu, said at an interactive session with reporters that the governor has also not informed the party of the problem with the electoral management body probably because he is aware of his suspension.

    INEC has said it will not issue certificate of return to Okorocha, who was declared Senator-elect, insisting he was declared winner under duress.

    Asked whether the party planned to intervene in the matter, Issa- Onilu said Okorocha is still under suspension, adding until such is vacated the party will not intervene.

    “On the refusal of INEC to issue Certificate of Return to governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, who was announced winner of the Imo West senatorial ticket, this party cannot take any action.

    “Don’t forget that he is on suspension and as far as this party is concerned, that situation remains because there is no way we can say that somebody is on suspension and still go ahead to intervene in his case.

    “In any case, he has not even come up to inform the party of his problem because he has realised that he is on suspension.

    “Therefore, until it is vacated, the party will now step in to intervene as a party member who has problem to resolve.”

    On whether former Rivers state governor Rotimi Ameachi had committed anti-party activity for allegedly supporting governorship of African Action Congress (AAC), Issa- Onilu said: “I will emphatically say no because if you liken it to the situation in Imo and or Ogun states, it will be wrong.

    “In Rivers state, APC does not have any candidate and as a party, Rivers state is very important to us. The state has been in the hands of pillagers for too long.

    “If we have the opportunity of working with party willing to abide by our principles, then it is within our right to work with such a party to ensure we free the people of Rivers state from the locust.

    “In this case, he has not abandoned a particular candidate that belongs to the APC for a candidate of another party.

    “They are entirely different issues and in that case, there is no anti-party. Whatever Amaechi has done is completely normal and acceptable to this party as far as working with other party is concerned.”

    Read also: Kwara PDP passes confidence vote on Saraki

    On the supposed suspension of Senator Kabiru Marafa by his ward in Zamfara, Onilu said: “It’s within the powers of the party executives at the ward level.

    “If they have good reason to take punitive action against a member that they considered to have flaunted the rules of the party.

    “In this case, we don’t have all the facts because it has not been brought to NWC attention and they don’t really need to come that far before they can take that decision.

    “Whoever that has happened to has the window to seek redress. So, we are watching to be sure that they stay within the rule.”

  • ‘Wike never offered AAC’s guber candidate N3b to drop ambition’

    The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, on Tuesday, stated that Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) never offered the governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, N3 billion or any sum to drop his governorship ambition.

    Okah, who doubles as the Director of Information and Communications of PDP Campaign Council in Rivers, alleged that AAC’s standard-bearer had mastered the art of telling lies, since the All Progressives Congress (APC) adopted his party in the state.

    The 40-year-old Awara, an engineer, who hails from Kula-Kalabari in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers, while addressing reporters in Abuja, disclosed that he earlier turned down N3 billion that Wike offered him “some days ago,” through the governor’s associates, but he maintained that his running mate, Akpo Yeeh, 67, an Ogoni, resigned on Monday and defected to PDP, after he collected Wike’s N200 million bribe.

    Rivers information commissioner said: “The allegation is childish and ridiculous. Does he know the weight of N3 billion? Where will the governor get such money to give anybody as bribe to win an election that he has already won? What did Awara do or will do that will make the governor offer him such money? Is it for the lies he tells or the election he contested and failed? Even though lying is part of the APC, Awara is running faster than his masters in learning the art of falsehood.

    “Awara stands before history to elect between darkness and light and whichever course he chooses will have political implication for the rest of his life. Awara is advised to toe the line of honour mapped by his deputy, Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh, and free himself from the yoke of standing before history to answer questions which his inordinate ambition has inflicted on the state.

    Read also: Ignore vituperations of defecting Yeeh in Rivers – Tonye Cole

    “How will Awara explain to God and men of goodwill that he does not care about those that died during the governorship and House of Assembly elections; robbing Rivers people their right to choose the governor they like and indeed, the huge economic toll the state has to bear as a result of his recklessness in wanting to serve the wrong master at the wrong time and at all costs?”

    Okah also assured AAC’s governorship candidate that unless he responds in full to the weighty issues raised during Monday’s news conference by his defecting running mate, a huge burden would contiue to hover over his (Awara’s) head.

  • Rivers AAC governorship candidate alleges threat to life

    Barely one week to the April 2 collation of results of the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara is complaining that his life is in danger. His running mate, Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh, resigned yesterday morning and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Yeeh, 67, an Ogoni, was yesterday afternoon received in the Government House, Port Harcourt, by Governor Nyesom Wike and other PDP leaders.

    Awara, 38, an engineer, in a telephone interview yesterday, was surprised on the resignation of his running mate. He said he spoke with him at 7 pm on Sunday, but Yeeh did not inform him of his plan to resign and defect to the PDP. The candidate said gunmen were after him and members of his family.

    AAC’s governorship candidate said: “I saw my running mate’s resignation online. I have not received the resignation letter he claimed to have addressed to me. I do not know about Yeeh’s resignation.”

    One of the leaders of AAC in Rivers, who spoke in confidence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday afternoon, declared that the motivation for Yeeh’s resignation from the party (AAC) and his defection to PDP was the N200 million cash he received from Wike.

    Commissioner for Information and Communications Emma Okah, who doubles as the Director of Information and Communications of the PDP Campaign Council, described the N200 million accusation as untrue.

    Okah said: “The allegation that Governor Wike gave AAC’s deputy governorship candidate (Yeeh) N200 million is not correct; it is untrue and it is absolute nonsense.

    “Chief Yeeh is a respected elder from Ogoni Kingdom and his action by removing himself from being used to destabilise Rivers State and cause pain to the people is commendable. Everything is not about money, as there are lots of good people around.

    “We should commend him (Yeeh) for taking the bold and historic step, instead of calling him names. Future generations of our people will remember the moral lesson of his present actions.”

    Awara, in a statement yesterday evening, hailed the God-fearing people of Rivers State for voting for him and other candidates of AAC on March 9, stressing that they had taken ownership of the crude oil and gas-rich state.

    He also lauded Rivers people for hitting Port Harcourt streets yesterday morning to protest the plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the mandate of the people.

    The AAC’s candidate said: “The peace-loving people of Rivers State have taken over ownership of the struggle to liberate their state from reactionary forces. It is despicable that Wike is ready to do nasty things, in order to stay in power. Wike luring my deputy with N200 million is evidence of his level of desperation.

    “I have not received any resignation letter from my deputy. Christians the world over believe in fair play, but Wike’s actions and reactions cast serious doubts on his sense of morality. Wike had earlier said the AAC was not a  party to reckon with. It is shocking he could shamelessly use public funds meant for the development of Rivers State to shop for deputy governorship candidates of opposition parties.

    “The same Rivers governor had earlier bought off the deputy governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State, despite existing provisions, which clearly show that deputies are part owners of joint tickets, who cannot be easily separated from their candidates, once they have appeared on the ballot.

    “Despite the antics of Wike, Rivers people have obviously taken the position that the outgoing governor can no longer lead them. I won the March 9 governorship election. Whatever INEC plans to do, the Rivers people will resist attempts to steal their mandate.”

    Amaechi’s media aide, David Iyofor, was contacted yesterday evening through the telephone from Abuja, but he declined to react to Yeeh’s allegations.

    Read also: Rivers: Controversy over poll result collation

    Awara’s running mate, yesterday afternoon, visited Wike in the Government House, Port Harcourt. The governor and leaders of PDP received him.

    Wike, while receiving Yeeh, said that no one man’s interest was bigger than the state, stressing that all leaders must unite to develop the state.

    Wike said history would be kind to Yeeh for placing Rivers’ interest above personal consideration.

    With Wike while receiving Yeeh were the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who hails from Andoni LGA of Rivers: the state’s Chairman of the party, Chief Felix Obuah; a former Rivers governor, Sir Celestine Omehia; Senator-elect Barry Mpigi, an Ogoni, who facilitated the resignation and defection of the running mate; and other PDP leaders.

    Rivers governor said: “History will be on your side. You have shown that the interest of the state is above personal consideration.  God will not only protect you, He will reward you for this decision.

    “Rivers State is the only state we have. Everyone must work together to move this state forward. It is important to take this state to greater heights.

    “It is not everyone that can take this kind of decision. It requires maturity to take this kind of decision.”

    Wike also stated that all leaders of Rivers, irrespective of their political affiliations, must work in unity to develop the state.

    He said: “All of us must work together, in order to forge ahead. No one man’s interest is bigger than that of the state.”

    The governor also welcomed Yeeh into PDP, noting that he would be part of the group to consolidate the development of the state.

    He said: “You are welcome to the party that will move the state forward. Those on the other side must understand that you cannot kill people, just to be in power.  With this bold decision, our brothers on the other side know that the end has come.”

    Wike thanked the running mate for refusing to allow himself to be a tool in what he described as the state’s destabilisation.

    Secondus described Yeeh ’s defection as a welcome development, which, he said, would help the state to grow.

    Secondus said: “This is a welcome development. This is what a normal situation is supposed to be. The people will see the reason why we must work together. This is an uncommon  decision. You have taken a wise decision, because you have the interest of the people at heart.”

    PDP’s national chairman also called on INEC to bring the Rivers governorship and House of Assembly elections to a logical conclusion, so that the people could continue with their lives.

    Secondus also called on Amaechi and other persons working with him (Transportation minister) to see reason why they should stop destabilising Rivers State and causing confusion.

    Yeeh had earlier stated that Rivers state developed by the founding fathers should be sustained by the efforts of all patriots.

    The running mate said: “Today (yesterday), I am in your midst to declare my defection to the PDP.  Governor Wike is a man of vision. He is a man of compassion. It is his compassion that endears him to the people of Rivers State. I choose to identify with him to move the state forward.”

    Yeeh also stated that as a retired security officer, he would work with Wike to promote the security of Rivers state.

    The running mate informed  Rivers governor that he had officially withdrawn his candidacy of AAC.

    Yeeh said: “I officially announce the withdrawal of my candidacy for the AAC. My loyalty is with the PDP. I cannot afford to leave the fast lane and go to the slow lane.”

    Rivers chairman of PDP, while also speaking, claimed that the running mate had searched his conscience and decided to work with the PDP to develop the state.

  • Why I defected to PDP, by AAC governorship running mate

    AFRICAN Action Congress (AAC) governorship running mate in Rivers State GAKPO Bomba Yeeh has explained why he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Announcing his withdrawal from the yet-to-be concluded governorship election, Chief Yeeh said he decided to dump the AAC to join hands with Governor Nyesom Wike to move Rivers State forward.

    Wike, the PDP governorship candidate has the AAC candidate, Biokpomabo Awarato, to contend with for him to retain his seat.

    Awara told reporters in his Port Harcourt home yesterday, said: “After due consultations with my immediate family,  friends and supporters,  I, Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh,  the governorship running mate of the AAC for the 2019 governorship election, hereby resign my membership of the AAC and announce my defection to the PDP to join hands with Governor Wike to move the state forward.

    “I was the governorship running mate of the AAC in Rivers State up till today (yesterday), 25th March, 2019, when I decided to withdraw my candidature and resign from the party with immediate effect.

    “The  March 9 , governorship election in Rivers State has been lost and won; lost by my party, African Action Congress (AAC) and its candidate, Biokpomabo Awara and undoubtedly and overwhelmingly won by the Governor of Rivers State, the candidate of the PDP,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.”

    He noted that despite interference by security agencies, the Rivers people stood their ground and voted for the incumbent.

    Yeeh said: “The collated results further showed that contrary to the claim  of fictitious lead by the AAC/APC alliance,  the PDP overwhelmingly won  all  the elections  in 18 out of the 19 LGAs,  culminating in the declaration and return of the party 26 House of Assembly constituencies by the Constituency Returning Officers.

    “This fact was confirmed on the 13th of March, 2019, when INEC stated, as a matter of fact, that it had in its safe custody collated results for 17 local government areas as well as the declaration of the PDP candidates for 21 state constituencies.

    “The outcome of the elections on March 9, 2019, clearly showed the preference of the people. Even the blind can see and the deaf can hear the echo that Rivers people overwhelmingly voted to stick with Governor Wike for the next four years to encourage him to continue with the good works.”

    The former ACC governorship running mate told reporters that he had been forced to sign an undated letter of resignation to be effective after their expected inauguration.

    He alleged: “I was forced to sign an undated letter of resignation as the geputy governor of Rivers State to pave the way for Rotimi Amaechi to nominate another person as deputy governor.

    “These were slavish conditions for any rational politician worth his name to accept, but I pretended to play along because doing otherwise at that time would have been too dangerous for the safety of my life, given Amaechi’s desperation to remove Wike from office and install his stooge in the person of Engr Awara against all odds.”

    According to him, the Transportation minister, who adopted the ACC, promised to fund the party.

    He stated that the adoption and promise to deliver AAC was with conditions that conferred de facto governance on the minister.

    Chief Yeeh, who outlined the conditions, said: “First, he (Amaechi) must be the one to appoint 90 per cent of all political office holders, including commissioners, special advisers, and chairmen and members of government agencies and parastatals.

    “Second, he must be the one to nominate and produce all the 23 local government area’s chairmen and other principal officers of the councils.

    Read also: Rivers AAC governorship candidate alleges threat to life

    “We, that is, Awara and my humble self, must consult and take instructions from him on all financial, policy and fiscal matters, as well as award and payment of all contracts and other financial transactions upon inauguration as governor and deputy governor of the state.

    “As a practicing Christian, I have come to the conclusion that the actions and desperate attempts by the AAC/APC alliance to rig the governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State are both morally and legally wrong, reprehensible and inimical to the collective interest of the people of Rivers State.

    “The Almighty God will not forgive me if I continue to lend my support to Rotimi Amaechi’s perfidy against the democratic rights of the people of Rivers State to freely elect their own leaders.”

    Yeeh stated that he has informed Awara in writing of his withdrawal and resignation from the race and the AAC.

  • AAC rejects INEC’s position on Rivers election

    The African Action Congress has rejected claims by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that results from 17 out of the 23 local were ready for collation, saying it was an attempt to cede victory to Governor Nyelsom Wike. In a statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary, Felix Enimini William, the party asked the commission to declare its candidate winner of the election as it was clear he was ahead in the polls before the process was halted.

    It wondered why the commission could list the local government it claimed their results were available. The statement reads: “The African Action Congress in Rivers State condemns in its entirety the memo released into media space by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by midnight purporting that governorship and state assembly elections results were available for seventeen (17) LGAs.

    “Sadly, we are curiously surprised and disappointed that INEC deliberately refused to name the 17 local government areas. As far as this information is concerned, it is manifestly false and the attempt to shroud the LGAs claimed to have results in secrecy is a serious step by INEC to sway the outcome of the process in favour of Gov. Nyesom Wike, its preferred candidate.

    “We suspect that INEC might be working to surreptitiously bring in cooked up results credited to Obio/Akpor to skew the balance of reality of things in favour of Wike. We vehemently reject this and will resist it with every pint of blood in us. It is now clear to all that INEC has become deaf and blind to the fact that Gov. Nyesom Wike invaded the Obio/Akpor collation centre and ordered his security men to shoot an Army Captain and another soldier providing perimeter security to the collation centre. The captain and his colleague are still in hospital after undergoing serious surgery.

    “We ask: Is it so difficult for INEC to name the 17 LGAs? If INEC has agreed and accepted that four collation officers are card-carrying members of PDP and INEC have now sanctioned them, what happens to the results they collated having not been qualified to do so ab initio? We call on INEC to stop its collaboration with Gov. Nyesom Wike and the PDP. It must declare Engr. Biokpomabo Awara our governorship candidate winner of the March 9 governorship election as it was glaring that he was winning until INEC stepped in to halt the process apparently to save Wike from an earth-shaking defeat.

    “Those (including Gov. Wike) who make the argument that our party and candidate are not popular enough to win the Rivers State governorship election are simply being clever by half. Can the governor and his ilk also say that APC that threw its weight behind us, for obvious reasons, are not popular and on ground in Rivers State?”

     

  • Five AAC members arrested for pasting posters

    Five members of the African Action Congress party were arrested on Sunday for pasting posters in Lagos State and are still being held in custody.

    After discussing with police responsible for the arrest , concerned members anxious for their release have been advised that the orders are directly from the Police Commissioner.

    The five supporters arrested were not violating any laws. Pasting of posters and creating awareness for the only alternative to the rot that has decimated our nation is not and has never been a crime in Nigeria, and this recent act of injustice suffered by the “Take It Back Movement”,

    According to the AAC  presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, “the APC party is not interested in a free, fair election or in doing what is best for Nigerians.” He said

    Every step of the AAC party’s campaign has been dogged with impediments and outright have been blocked. From cancelled TV interviews to the withdrawal of rally permits in the northern part of Nigeria, the government has launched a vendetta campaign against the one party resolved in bettering the lives of Nigerians.

    Read Also: Minimum wage: AAC Ogun governorship candidate advocate for better deal

    There are no guesses as to why a political parties  has taken offence against the AAC. While unwilling to pay hardworking Nigerians N30,000 a month for work done as minimum wage, the African Action Congress promises a living wage of N100,000 per month. While the incumbent government looks the other way while Nigerians are killed in their droves by terrorists, the AAC promises prosecution and tougher security measures to guarantee the safety and protection of Nigerians.

    AAC will  not only promise to work from day one, but also shows exactly how it plans to execute these tasks and where the funding will come from.

    We will continue to fight because Nigerians deserve better than the dire hand they’ve been dealt.

    Nigeria must progress, and we will uphold the struggle until she does.