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Tag: Rivers

  • Assassins after my life, says AAC’s Awara

    The governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers State, Biokpomabo Awara, has raised the alarm on plots to assassinate him.

    Awara, an indigene of coastal Kula-Kalabari in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers state, told our correspondent on phone he was robbed of his well-deserved victory during the March 9 election by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He accused the officials of collaborating with leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The governorship candidate of AAC, who is being backed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), said: “Information reaching me is that some boys have been dispatched to trail and assassinate me, even in Abuja, since I have refused to give up on my March 9, 2019 mandate.”

    Read Also: Navy arrests three suspects with 416 bags of contraband rice

    Awara maintained that as at the time the collation of results of the polls was suspended by INEC headquarters in Abuja on March 10, he had 281,000 votes as against Wike’s 79,000 votes.

    He also expressed displeasure his agent, Dr. Lawrence Chuku, was prevented on April 2 and 3, from accessing the collation centre inside INEC office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

    He alleged the commission’s compromised officials and security personnel allowed Nenye Kocha, who was accused of impersonating AAC, as the party’s collation agent, despite AAC’s protest.

  • Umahi congratulates Wike on re-election

    The Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has congratulated his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike on his re-election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Governor Umahi in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor described the declaration of Wike as the winner of the March 9th Governorship election in Rivers state by INEC as victory for democracy and a pointer to a better democratic norm in the country.

    While congratulating Governor Wike on his re-election, Umahi extolled his dogged spirit in fighting for his rights and to recover the mandate of the people of the state which they demonstrated through their ballots.

    Read Also: Rivers election: INEC declares Wike winner

    He commended INEC for standing firm and doing that which is right, adding that there is still hope that Nigeria will still get it better in terms of conducting free and credible elections in future.

    Umahi called on all the political actors in the state to join hands together to move the state forward, adding that Nigerians should eschew politics of bitterness and see politics as a vehicle to render service to mankind.

  • Rivers: INEC to resume collation of election results

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will today resume the collation of election results in Rivers State as planned, it was learnt last night.

    Last week, the commission fixed April 2 to 5 for collation of results of the March 9 Governorship and State Assembly elections, which it suspended following disruptions of the political process.

    According to INEC, election had been concluded in 21 state constituencies. It fixed April 13 should there be any need for supplementary election.

    A stakeholders’ meeting at Rivers’ INEC office turned rancorous at the weekend, heightening fears that the exercise might be affected.

    But the commission said yesterday that it will go ahead with the collation as scheduled.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Chairman of the Commission, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said rancour among political parties at stakeholders’ meeting before any major election is a common phenomenon.

    Oyekanmi, therefore, said whatever might have transpired during the stakeholders meeting in Rivers at the weekend was not enough to alter INEC time line to conclude the election.

    He said: “Regardless of their drama, however, the commission will go ahead with its schedule of activities for the resumption of collation and conduct of supplementary elections where necessary in Rivers State.”

    According to him, whatever position taken by the parties at the stakeholders’ meeting will not alter the electoral umpire’s schedule.

    He stressed: “It does not change anything. The commission will go ahead with its plan.”

    On the call for withdrawal of INEC National Commissioner Mrs. May Agbamuche Mbu, who chaired the stakeholders meeting, Oyekanmi said INEC will not abdicate its constitutional and statutory responsibility and create a constitutional crisis.

    He said: “The commission is determined to conclude the collation of results for State Assembly and Governorship elections in Rivers State. The commission is courageously following its timetable and schedule of activities outlined for the conclusion of the collation and electoral process.

    “The process of collation and conclusion of the process is transparent and painstaking…”

     

  • Rivers Collation: Police to deploy personnel, shut Aba road

    Rivers Police Command on Monday said it has commenced the deployment of personnel to strategic areas and collation centres for election results collation scheduled to begin in the state on Tuesday.

    The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, made this known in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on March 21, announced the resumption of collation and announcement of results in the state between April 2 and April 5.

    According to Omoni, the decision to deploy personnel was reached following a meeting between the state Police Commissioner and the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

    “ICCES agreed to put in place adequate security measures to ensure that the entire process is transparent and seamlessly carried out.

    “Part of the security measures that were agreed include massive deployment of police personnel and other sister security agencies to the venue and the outer perimeter of collation centres.

    Omoni said that Waterlines and GRA junction axis of Port Harcourt/Aba Express Road, would be shut to traffic during the duration of the exercise.

    READ ALSO: Rivers: Controversy over poll result collation

    He said that both lanes of the road would be closed to motorists, advising road users to divert to Olu Obansanjo and Polo Club Roads.

    “The police note with concern the temporary hardship the closure will cause. We appeal to the public to show understanding and bear with us.

    “The closure is done in the overall interest of the public, as well as to provide a conducive atmosphere for the collation.

    “Politicians, candidates and indeed unauthorised persons, are warned to stay clear from the collation centres,” he said.

    The police spokesperson warned that any individual or group seen undermining the process would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the Electoral Act.

    Omoni solicited for the cooperation and support of the public towards a successful conduct of the exercise.

  • 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: Lulu-Briggs wants Governorship, Assembly polls cancelled

    Chief Dumo Lulu- Briggs, the Accord Party gubernatorial candidate in Rivers, has called for the cancellation of the March 9 Governorship and House of Assembly elections for lack of credibility.

    Lulu-Briggs made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

    He said that the call was necessitated by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) testimony on the gross electoral misconduct and insecurity that led to cancellation of elections in several polling units in the state.

    The politician said that the subsequent suspension of the process was enough reason to ask for a fresh election in the state.

    “What is most important is the credibility of the electoral process and legitimacy of any government.

    “Remember that on March 9, INEC had issued a press statement that reports from their men on the field indicated that there were wide spread irregularities and violence in substantial polling units and collation centres.

    “That INEC staff was taken hostage and materials, including result sheets were destroyed by unauthorised persons.

    “And that they could no longer vouch for the credibility of the electoral process.

    “INEC having raised such an alarm in this sort of atmosphere, the various party agents went back to their houses,” he said.

    Lulu-Briggs said it was disheartening that INEC was now saying that they have some results they intend to collate and announce, tell me how credible such result could be?

    “Even if they are authentic results, what confidence will the people have in the electoral umpire who kept the acclaimed results without the monitoring of party agents?

    “It’s said that justice should not only be done but should also be seen to have been done,’ Lulu-Briggs said.

    The Accord party candidate said that whatever INEC intended to do outside conducting a fresh election in the state could cause mayhem.

    He said that since INEC openly admitted that they could no longer vouch for the credibility of the process they should conduct a fresh poll to avert crises in the state.

  • Ignore vituperations of defecting Yeeh in Rivers – Tonye Cole

    The governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Pastor Tonye Cole, has urged well-meaning Rivers indigenes to ignore the vituperations of deputy governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers, Chief Akpo Yeeh, who resigned on Monday and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Cole, who spoke in Port Harcourt through the spokesman of his campaign organisation, Ogbonna Nwuke, declared Yeeh’s view was skewed by the N200 million cash given to him by Governor Nyesom Wike of PDP.

    The co-founder of Sahara Group (Cole) said: “It is pertinent to note that neither the APC nor the Minister for Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has in any way interfered with the internal organisation of the AAC.

    “We are aware that Yeeh, whose appetite for sudden wealth has overtaken reason, is not the author of the script that he read in his Port Harcourt residence on Monday.

    “We sympathise with Yeeh, a self-avowed young politician, whose hunt for a meal ticket has led him to mortgage his conscience for mess of porridge.

    “It is indeed laughable that the crafted statement delivered claims that the Minister for Transportation had insisted that he would appoint 90 per cent of the commissioners, 23 local government council chairmen, in an undated resignation address served to the public.

    READ ALSO: I’ll pursue my case further after Saturday’s poll – Tonye Cole

    “We are not shocked by the lies that Yeeh served the public, in order to put food on his table. It is consistent with the propaganda slant of the PDP, used to deceive the people and deflect the attention of the Nigerian people from the fact that PDP’s candidates lost horribly in the field, because of the resolve of Rivers people to effect a change.

    “Wike and other leaders of PDP are determined to steal Rivers people’s mandate through unparalleled bribery of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other institutions.

    “Institutions that Wike and other PDP leaders have been unable to bribe are understandably at the apex of their criticisms. These institutions include the Nigerian Army, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the APC.”

    Cole also stated that he was at a loss on how a coalition between the APC and the AAC could be interpreted to mean an attempt to cause crisis in Rivers, insisting the interest of the state far outstrips the interest of an individual.

    He said: “It is obvious that what is critical at this time is the quest to deliver unto Rivers people, a government that is transparent, accountable, responsible, focused and committed to their welfare.

    “We wish to state unequivocally that political parties in this country and elsewhere in the world enjoy the right to enter into coalition with any party of their choice, for the purpose of forming a government of state or national unity, which will deliver dividends of democracy and serve the overall interest of the people.

    “It is important to observe that Yeeh’s name is already on the ballot. The sponsors of the malicious publication targeted against the Minister for Transportation against the backdrop of the defection of an unserious and hungry politician should take copious note of the decision of INEC to refuse the exit from the presidential race of Dr Oby Ezekwesiele.”

  • 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.

  • Rivers AAC deputy guber candidate defects to PDP

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike Monday said that no one man’s interest is bigger than the state.

    Wike reportedly made the statement when he received the deputy governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh, who defected to the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Monday.

    Receiving the 71-year-old at the government House Port-Harcourt, Wike charged all leaders to work together to move Rivers State forward.

    Speaking during a solidarity visit at the state House where chief Yeeh apparently announced his defection to the PDP, Wike noted that history will be kind to him (the defector), for placing Rivers interest above personal consideration.

    The Former AAC Deputy Governorship Candidate was received by Wike and the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

    Others present at the ceremony are the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, Ex-Governor Celestine Omehia, Senator-elect Barry Mpigi and other leaders of party in the State.

    Wike 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 “.

    The Governor said all leaders of Rivers State 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”.

    He accorded a warm welcome to the new entrant and promised to incorporate him into the group that will consolidate the development of the state.

    “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,” he said.

    He lauded the former Deputy Governorship Candidate for refusing to be allowed to be a tool for the destabilisation of the state.

    Also speaking, Secondus described the defection as a welcome development that will help move the state forward.

    He 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”.

    Secondus called on INEC to bring the Rivers election to a logical conclusion, so that the people can continue with their lives.

    The PDP Boss called on the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and other persons working with him to see reason they should stop destabilising the state and causing confusion.

    Earlier, Yeeh had said that the state developed by the founding fathers should be sustained by the efforts of all patriots.

    He said: “Today, 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.”

    He added that as a retired security personnel, he would work with Governor Wike to promote the security of the State.

    Yeeh informed Wike that he has officially withdrawn his candidacy for AAC.

    “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,” he said.

    On his part, Obuah said the new member has searched his conscience and decided to work with the PDP to develop the state.

  • Anarchy looms in Rivers, CSOs cry out

    Members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Monday took to the streets to protest against the continuous stay in office of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga.

    The groups, identified as the “International Society of Social Justice and “Human Rights and Advocate for Justice International”, were led by Dr. Jackson Omenazu and Young Bassey.

    The duo led their supporters in a joint protest to the operational offices of some security agencies in the state urging them to appeal to  INEC to redeploy Effanga to avert looming crisis.

    The CSOs took their protests to the Director for Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police.

    They accused the INEC in the state of partisanship, insisting that his continuous stay in the state will spark anarchy and further deaths in the state.

    Addressing their hosts at different offices, the leader of the protest, Dr. Omenazu said, “We are here to present a letter of protest to the Police Commissioner on what we have observed as civil society organization, about the conduct of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state.

    “As law enforcement Officers, we believe you are saddled with responsibility of prosecuting any erring government agent that has compromised his or her office.

    “Our findings have indicated that the state REC, Obo Affanga’s actions and inactions may throw the state into unimaginable crisis, Anarchy looms in the state because of his conducts and we are calling on the CP to please for the sake of peace, avert the anarchy that is looming in the state by calling the REC to order.

    “When an electoral umpire becomes bias, it is a catalyst to anarchy and we don’t want anarchy in this state any more. Rivers state has had engulfed in crisis, enough blood has been shed.

    “We don’t want to see him; Rivers people don’t want to have anything to do with him anymore. INEC headquarter should please send in another REC that will conduct free and fair elections so that Rivers people can have peace.

    “His continuous stay and presiding and superintending over elections in this state is a call to anarchy and the only way to avert it, is for him to leave the state in peace,” he insisted.