Tag: Rivers rerun

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions, Betty Apiafi, has denied demanding for a bribe from Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in the December 10 legislative rerun in Rivers State.

The lawmaker threatened to sue the online news medium that linked her with the alleged bribe.

She said the allegation was false and malicious because it was targeted at tarnishing her reputation.

The lawmaker, who represents Abua-Odua/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, said she had instructed a law frim, Ade Okeaya-Inneh and Co. to take legal action against the publishers of the publication.

A statement in Abuja by her solicitor and signed by Mr. Kenechukwu Michael Nomeh, reads: “We are solicitors to Honourable Betty Apiafi, member, House of Representatives, representing Abua-Odua/Ahoada East Federal Constituency of Rivers State, on whose behalf and firm instruction we issue this statement. We shall hereinafter refer to her as our client.

“Our client’s attention has been drawn to various false and malicious online reports published on December 16, 2016, and the make-believe voice recording accompanying it. This purported that she solicited for funds from His Excellency, The Governor of Rivers State to bribe officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) engaged in the conduct of the just concluded National and State Houses of Assembly rerun elections in Rivers State and the youths of Abua-Odua/Ahoada East Federal Constituency.

“We want to observe that ordinarily, a baseless accusation by a junk online news medium with a penchant for publishing falsehood is not worthy of our client’s response. However, we make bold to state that the said female voice ascribed to our client in the purported audio recording is a product of the notorious voice altering software aimed at disparaging and painting her in bad light before the public, particularly the good people of Rivers State whom she represents at the National Assembly…”

THOUSANDS of protesting leaders and members of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday shut down Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The protesters demanded police’s thorough probe of the leaked audio tape of bribery, with Governor Nyesom Wike threatening to kill officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who refused to support the rigging of the December 10 rerun in the state.

The Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC during last year’s election in the state, Mr. Honourable Asita, led the protesters from the party’s state secretariat on Forces Avenue, old Government Reservation Area (GRA) to the police headquarters on Moscow Road and later to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Port Harcourt, where protest letters and copies of the rigging audio tapes were dropped, for onward transmission to their bosses in Abuja.

Besides Asita, a lawyer and a former member of the House of Representatives, other APC leaders who joined the protest included the Rivers Chairman of the party, Chief Davies Ikanya; a former Rivers Commissioner for Agriculture, Emma Chindah; Deputy National Secretary of APC, Oji Ngofa; ex-Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, and a former Chairman of Khana-Ogoni Local Government Council, Akpo Bari Celestine, among other eminent politicians. The protesters were chanting: “How many policemen Wike go kill?” and “Wike is a killer man, killer man all the time.” Some of the placards of the APC members read: “Wike, you are a liar”, “Police tried their best during rerun, but Wike won’t let them be”, “Wike, you are a disgrace to Rivers people”, “We thank the police for preventing more loss of lives”, “Wike, you are wicked”, “Wike, leave the police to do their work” and “Rivers REC of INEC must go.”

The APC members were received by the Rivers Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Cyril Okoro, who assured that APC’s protest letter and rigging audio tape would be forwarded to the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, but urged the protesters to disperse peacefully, in order to prevent a situation that might lead to the breakdown of law and order. Speaking, Asita said: “We are protesting against the violence associated with the December 10 rerun in Rivers State. We believe that politics is about canvassing for votes and allowing the electorate to vote for candidates of their choice. In Nigerian politics, we have the worst cases of killings, intimidation and violence in Rivers State, especially during the campaigns and elections.

“We have complained. We have written many petitions to the police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Presidency, about the violence. The violence in Rivers State is no longer against our party members, but also against security agents.

Just last Saturday (December 10), DSP Alkali Mohammed of Mobile Police Unit 48, was beheaded along with his orderly while many policemen are still missing since then. “Rivers governor has been on air, announcing the names of gallant policemen: the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Operations, Steven Hasso, and the Commander of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Mr. Akin Fakorede, who refused to take bribes, who decided to stand on the path of truth and protect lives and property.

The governor has been scandalising and intimidating the senior police officers. Wike should leave Hasso and Fakorede alone. Asita also described as laughable, Wike’s defence of the rigging tape, which has gone viral. He said: “Wike has been threatening that he has a tape to show Nigerians, about meetings between our party and policemen, which he has failed to show. So, we have come with our own tape. This is the first episode, showing where he (Wike) was bribing officials of INEC and threatening to kill them, if they refused to rig the elections for the PDP and that they would not leave Rivers State alive, if they refused to do his bidding.

That was why there was large-scale rigging in the state. Even where elections were not held, results were declared for PDP. “We will produce more episodes of the tape. Wike is unable to produce his own tape. With the tape Rivers APC is handling over to you, you can start investigation immediately.

“In Rivers State, PDP members have killed many soldiers, policemen and other security agents. We had cases where PDP leaders went to the prisons to release known criminals.’’

An audio tape portraying Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike admitting to bribing some electoral officials and threatening to kill them if they failed to play ball went viral yesterday.

In the audio, published by Sahara Reporters, an online publication, a supposed electoral officer is heard informing the governor that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were being intimidated from doing his (the governor’s)  bidding.

But Wike’s Information Commissioner Austin Tam-George dismissed the telephone conversation as fabrication.

Dr. Tam-George accused the on-line publication of acting the script of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Premium Times, which reported the audio recording, said it could not authenticate the edited clip.

It said: “Intimidation by who now,” Mr. Wike was heard asking.

The governor told the official to tell others to be courageous and do what was done in Ikwerre

“Ikwerre did it, they couldn’t even do anything,” the voice said to be Wike was heard saying.

The governor is also heard threatening to kill the officials if they do not do his bidding or return his money.

“They should return what they gave them or I will kill them,” the governor was heard telling a supposed aide whom he asked to warn the unnamed INEC officials from deployed from Plateau.

The commissioner  said the whole thing was an  allegation,  fabrication, and outright lie, noting that there was no time that the governor made any contact with INEC officials for the purpose of rigging the rerun elections.

Tam-George said that modern technology had made it possible for a person’s voice to be manipulated.

He said: “Governor Wike never made any contact with INEC officials in person or by telephone.

“No one would have thought that the APC and its cowardly media allies would resort to an audio impersonation of Governor Nyesom Wike, using a voice changer technology. The voice changer technology is often used by teenagers mainly in South Korea and Japan to launch innocent technology prank at each other, mainly for laughs.

“We reject the latest blackmail by the APC.”

Also reacting, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone said: “Having been caught in the web of their own machinations, what do you expect Governor  Nyesom Wike and his Commissioner to say?

“Often when anyone is caught pants down, the most convenient and ready response is to blame and blackmail others. The truth remains that Gov. Wike in that Saharareporters’ audio tape was caught pants down and he simply cannot find where to hide.

“It is important to state that the APC had several times in the past been brought under scrutiny by Saharareporters to the amusement of Wike and the PDP, but today, they have found it convenient to associate the APC with Sahara Reporters.”

Fear of violence was palpable in Rivers State yesterday as the zero hour approached for the rerun of legislative elections in the state.

The situation prompted the both the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the newly created 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Maj-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Francis Odesanya, to issue stern warnings yesterday against ballot box snatching, rigging and unlawful movements during rerun that will cut across the three senatorial districts in the state.

As soldiers and policemen were deployed in flashpoints and other strategic parts of the state, representatives of the European Union, US, UK and France issued a joint statement yesterday expressing fears that the elections could turn violent.

Both the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), through its President, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, and the Doing Democracy Movement (DDM), through its Convener, Anyakwee Nsirimovu, also warned against violence and rigging during the rerun, stressing that the electorate must be allowed to vote for candidates of their choice.

Maj-Gen. Abdulkarimu, who was addressing officers and soldiers at the 6 Division’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday, stated that the heavy deployment of troops in flash points was meant to prevent the breakdown of law and order before, during and after the polls.

He said the soldiers would also be deployed in strategic locations, including oil and gas installations and other critical assets in and around Rivers State, while he directed the commanders to ensure early planning, coordination and liaison with civil authority, police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders in order to ensure a hitch-free rerun in the hitherto volatile Niger Delta state.

The GOC said: “During the elections, commanders are to ensure that troops are deployed in flash points, key points and valuable points before, during and after the elections.

“Troops will be in their respective positions by 3 am on election day. Commanders are to ensure that troops are deployed in the outer perimeter of designated collation centres and polling booths in support of the Nigerian Police without getting directly involved with INEC’s activities.

“Commanders are to direct the conduct of patrols, establish checkpoints and roadblocks and provide escort during the elections in order to prevent unlawful movements, ballot box snatching and sundry crimes.

“Commanders must ensure that troops deny unauthorised persons access to collation centres, INEC offices and NYSC officials during the elections.

“Commanders must ensure that troops are deployed rapidly to contain any breach of peace and ensure protection of lives and property while taking into consideration the principles of distinction, necessity, proportionality and humanity.”

Maj-Gen. Abdulkarim also stated that the local commanders were expected to escort election materials to the INEC office in Port Harcourt.

The troops would also identify and curtail hostile individuals, groups and key players, as well as gather information and carry out a show of force within strategic towns in Rivers and adjoining states.

The GOC said: “Commanders are to establish a broad-band communication network with repeater stations at strategic towns and embark on wide information gathering/intelligence activities within and adjoining states.

“Personnel found flouting the army’s position on the elections would be severely sanctioned in line with our operational guideline.

“Officers and soldiers should disassociate themselves with civilians and politicians, especially during the elections.”

Maj-Gen. Abdulkarim also ordered the troops to remain non-partisan and document on video and pictorial evidence for use, in the event of litigation that might result from their conduct during the elections.

The GOC admonished the soldiers to strictly adhere to the Nigerian army’s election code of conduct and operational orders during the rerun.

Odesanya insisted that the restriction of movement of people and vehicles/boats both on land and the waterways from midnight to 8 pm today would be strictly adhered to.

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police also stated that officers and men of the command would not tolerate lawlessness, thuggery, violence or rigging, and would deal decisively with troublemakers, no matter how highly placed.

MOSOP said: “Ogoni and other Rivers people are urged to be peaceful and vigilant to ensure violence-free, fair and credible rerun elections.

“The people, especially the youths, must be peaceful at all times and not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause violence before, during and after the elections. Violence during the polls will be a setback.”

The DDM also called on all Rivers people to refuse to yield to the prevalent grammar of electoral politics symptomatic to lawlessness, hate, violence and turn out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice on December 10.

It noted that the barbaric grammar of electoral politics in Rivers State was a fundamental threat to the survival of electoral democracy in Nigeria.

DDM said: “Some politicians in Rivers State have appropriated to themselves the policy of life or death, health or disease, equity or inequity, repair or deterioration, information or ignorance, open or closed government – overwhelming the people, eroding still further our capacity for self-government.

 “No matter your candidate or party of choice, ensure you vote a viable democratic, rule of law-based Rivers State.

“Citizens have a fundamental responsibility to preserve democracy and maintain its health by taking their democratic spirit seriously, giving no room to any inclination to violence.

“All should approach the election day activities with peace and tolerance, knowing full well that elections are civilised mechanisms for peaceful democratic rotation of leadership and adjudication between competing programmes.

 “The DDM reminds the people of Rivers State that they are the democratic geniuses, without which democracy in the state becomes lifeless.

“Citizens have to pay for the gift of freedom. Citizens have to earn the right to be members of democracy.

“Democracy in Rivers State can only succeed through ordinary people, not our so-called cultivated, learned elite.

“The masses must turn out and take their sovereign mandate seriously.

“On December 10, you must provide the barrier to demagogue’s misuse of power by ensuring that competent representatives take the burden of leadership on your behalf through your issue-based vote.

“For a Nigerian, democracy held and nurtured by ordinary people is the answer, not for ourselves, but for history.

You must shun violent politicians who will brake hearts by a patriotism of word but not of deed.”

EU, US, UK, France express worries

In a joint statement yesterday the heads of mission of the EU, US, UK and France called on the leadership of all the political parties and their supporters to allow for peaceful elections.

They urged party leaders and their supporters not to use or incite violence.

Paul T. Arkwright, British High Commissioner to Nigeria; W. Stuart Symington, the United States (US) Ambassador to Nigeria; Denys Guaer, the French Ambassador of Nigeria and Michel Arrion, the EU Head of Delegation to Nigeria, all signed the statement.

The envoys stressed that the leaders of all the parties are accountable for the actions of their members.

They also encouraged INEC and the security forces to perform their duties responsibly and impartially.

 They also urged all parties to respect the electoral process and raise any grievances peacefully and through official channels.

 The statement reads: “We note with concern the rising tension in Rivers State ahead of elections on 10 December.

“We call on the leadership of all political parties and their supporters in Rivers state to allow elections to go ahead peacefully.

“We encourage INEC and the security forces to perform their duties responsibly and impartially. We urge all parties to respect the electoral process and raise any grievances peacefully and through official channels.

“We stress that the leaders of all parties are accountable for the actions of their members and we encourage them to urge their supporters not to use or incite violence.

Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters got a directive from the party’s leaders yesterday – they should fight back if attacked.

National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Kano State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje and Transportation Minister Chibuike Amaechi said tomorrow’s rerun is a must win.

They told the supporters to fight back “if their rivals have taken a desperate position to truncate the principle  of electing leaders” on the Election Day.

It was all at  Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area during the party’s mega rally ahead of the rerun.

APC supporters started trooping into the stadium at 8: 20 am and by 12 pm, the facility had been filled to its capacity.

The supporters  who were seated according to their local government areas, chanted APC slogans and hailed its candidates as they walked into the facility.

Ganduje, who is the chairman of the Election Rerun Campaign Committee, urged the supporters not to be afraid of the PDP on election day, but to  take cover and fight back

Ganduje said:  “If they shoot you, take cover and shoot them back.  Our party is formidable to win this election. We want to thank you for being committed to the ideals  of the party. In Rivers State, there is no peace, peace is absent, and do you believe in the propaganda going on in the Rivers State Government House?

“I don’t see anything that would make PDP to win the election on Saturday. Don’t be afraid go to the poll and fight back if they fight you. We are going to win this election and I can see that you are committed and ready to vote for APC.”

Odigie-Oyegun called on APC supporters to mobilise themselves and ensure that they vote for all APC candidates.

He said he supported what he described as the fire-for-fire approach, “I think I support your slogan; if you shoot me, I will shoot you; if you kill me, I will kill you. Go out there and vote for APC; don’t be afraid of them. You are protected; we have the federal might to protect you.

“We are in Rivers State to inform  you that we are ready for the rerun. We came with force; we respect the courage of our members in the state. Our message is simple, ‘enough is enough’. I am very glad with the crowd I saw here today and I know we are going to win the election on Saturday.”

Amaechi, who started the opening prayer with praise and worship, said: “Lord I know we don’t have the strength and power of our own to defeat PDP on December 10. Please help us to let PDP in Rivers State know that we are not killers.”

When Amaechi was invited again to give his speech, the minister, who the supporters described as “the Lion of Niger Delta” said: “This is an election of our lives, Before, I used to tell you; ‘please, don’t fight’. I think I will bend it a bit. What I will tell you is that do not kill anybody, but do not be killed.

“If you allow them shoot you, you will die. So, don’t allow them to shoot you. It is not only them that have the right to life, you too also have the right to life. I don’t want to hear ‘they shot me, they took the result sheet’.

“Anybody, who takes the result sheet, take it back from him. You know I have never spoken like this before. Now, my phones will be off on Saturday; don’t call me. The only time you will call me is from 6pm to tell me how we have won.”

Dr. Davies Ikenya, the APC chairman in the state, while delivering his  welcoming address   thanked APC governors, senators and other chieftains for coming to Rivers State.

He told the supporters that PDP is full of lies, stressing that APC is not a party that stains its hands with human blood but a peaceful and accommodating party.

No fewer that 12 governors were at the event. They include governors of Ogun, Plateau, Benue, Edo and Sokoto. Ondo State Governor-elect Rotimi Akeredolu was there.

There were also Mr. Segun Oni, Chief Don Etiebet, Mr. Timi Alaibe, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Senator Magnus Abe, Chief Andrew Uchendu,  the 2015 APC Deputy governorship candidate, Asita Honourable Asita, the former Chief of Staff, Hon. Tony Okocha, Chief Andrew Uchendu, Chief Oji Ngofa and others.

Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo and Hon. Lucky Worluh who led the elected APC local government chairmen in the 22 of the 23 local government areas who were sacked immediately Governor Nyesom Wike took over,  said the huge crowd was a sign of their commitment to the party.

They noted that the APC supporters at the Stadium had responded to the allegation by the PDP in the state that their supporters had defected to the PDP.

Akarolo, a former mayor of Port Harcourt, said: “Everyday the PDP is making noise that APC members have all defected to their party but the unprecedented crowd at the stadium today will shut up their mouths.  APC in Rivers State is peaceful and we will remain peaceful even after the rerun election.

“We don’t want to join issues with anybody; all we know is that we have absolute confidence in the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it will conduct a free, fair and credible election come December 10. Don’t forget our supporters are ready to defend their votes if   anything goes otherwise.”

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Yakub Mahmud, yesterday assured that next Saturday’s rerun in Rivers State will be free and fair.

Mahmud addressed State House correspondents at the end of the swearing-in of six commissioners at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The commission, he assured, would not be distracted by allegations.

Mahmud said the commission would carry out its assignment to the best of its ability.

He said: “INEC is poised to consolidate on the achievements of the 2016 elections. We wouldn’t be distracted by allegations. We’d do what we have always done to the best of our ability, bearing in mind that we have a responsibility to the Nigerian nation.

“We would go to Rivers State, conduct free, fair and credible elections, declare winners and leave the next level to the Judiciary.

“However, there is nothing new that we are going to do in Rivers beyond what we’ve always done. Votes must count because ultimately, it is the people of Rivers that will determine who will become their senators, members of the House of Representatives and the members of the House of Assembly.

“We want to pledge to Nigerians that we will never shirk our responsibilities. We’ll continue to discharge our responsibilities according to the law and the constitution of this country.”

Mahmud denied the allegations that names of All Progressives Congress (APC) members were selected to serve as Returning Officers for the rerun.

He said: “We have heard this allegations before. Election after election, there are allegations that we compromised the recruitment of ad hoc workers for the elections, in the recruitment of National Returning Officers. But there is nothing like that. The standard practice is to recruit ad hoc workers from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Where there is a shortfall, we recruit from Federal tertiary institutions.

“For Rivers State, there was a list from the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) to make up for the shortfall in ad hoc workers. We would continue to discharge our responsibilities; we won’t be distracted. INEC will never join issues with partisan politicians.”

The INEC chief was optimistic that the new commissioners would add value to the commission.

He said: “Now, we have a full complement of commissioners. Six additional commoners are coming on board. It’s not just the number that is important to us, but what they are bringing.

“We have a lawyer, we have an engineer. We have a seasoned media practitioner, we have a retired Air Vice Marshal. We have a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), we have an expert in planning and in relationship with international development partners. They are coming at a time we are putting all the rerun and bye-elections behind us.

“Next, we would then face the challenges of taking the commission forward. There are a number of things that we need to do. We need to revisit the delimitation of constituencies, we need to review additional polling units across this country. We need to look at the issue of separate constituencies and we need to have a conversation in this country about the cost of elections. These are the issues, going forward. There are many more.”

On the security of INEC officials during the rerun, Mahmud said INEC had done what was expected of it.

The INEC chairman also said other agencies saddled with providing security had assured they would perform their dutie.

“So far, we have been assured and so far, we are satisfied with the security arrangement,” he said.

On alleged thumb-printing of sensitive election materials in the state, Mahmud said: “I learnt about it, that somebody was printing sensitive electoral materials in Rivers. First, we have not been printing sensitive materials in states where elections are conducted. At the time the allegation was made, we had not even awarded the contract for the printing of the sensitive materials.

“So, it came as a huge surprise to us. But we have gone ahead to invite the police and the State Security Service (SSS) to investigate the matter because we are also interested in getting to the bottom of it.

“But it is really strange to say that INEC would print fake materials for elections. It is like accusing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of printing fake Naira notes. Who has the original?”