ORASHI REGION DECRY MILITARY INVASION OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AHEAD OF GENERAL ELECTIONS
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Abua/Odual, Ahoada-East, AhoadaWest and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government areas of Rivers State have expressed concern over plans by the All Progressivess Congress to cause havoc and rig the 2019 general elections.
In a Press Conference on Thursday , the PDP in Orashi region stated that APC is working with the Military to intimidate residents of the area to avoid the elections on Saturday.
Prof Kaniye Ebeku who read the address for the Orashi Region stated that the people insist on credible elections.
They also stated that the Military have taken over their country homes, making illegal arrests of PDP supporters .
“We draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the undue militarization and interference in the democratic process by agents of the Nigerian State in collusion with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cause havoc, rig the elections and deny our people of their legitimate rights as constitutionally guaranteed. Such brazen action would certainly scuttle the rights of our people to freely and fairly elect their leaders on the 23rd of February and the 9th of March 2019.”
“In the same vein, the APC has re-engaged the Commander of the Rivers State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Mr. Akin Victor Fakorede, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) with Force No: 41985, who was indicted by INEC during the infamous Rivers State National and State Legislative Houses re-run elections for perpetuating electoral malpractices, as its mercenary to actualize the party’s plan to either rig or prevent the peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections in the State with impunity.”
”Recall that Mr. Akin Victor Fakorede was earlier deployed to Bornu State Police Command on election duties; specifically, Bornu South Senatorial District, vide IGP’s deployment signal of 11th February 2019. He has been specifically re-deployed to Rivers State to operate in conjunction with Major General Sarham and SARS operatives to track, arrest and detain leaders of the PDP across the State by Thursday 21stFebruary 2019 until after the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday 23rd February 2019 in order to actualize their plan to rig the elections in the State. Already, over 53 men and women voters from Ndoni district in OgbajEgbemajNdoni LGA were arrested on 15th February 2019, just on account of their perceived sympathy for the PDP and remain in detention till date.”
The Orashi leaders also stated that despite the non participation of the Candidates of the APC in the elections, leaders of the APC have continued to make provocative threats to disrupt the electoral process.
“Despite the pronouncement of the Supreme Court on the 8th of February 2019 on the matter, Prince Tonye Princewill of the APC again on Sunday 17th February 2019 reaffirmed the subsisting threat and plot of the APC to disrupt, cause havoc and prevent the general elections in Rivers State. In his words”
“Further to the threat by the APC chieftains that elections in Rivers State will not be smooth and peaceful, the APC has planned to cordon off collation centres across the State and prevent PDP agents’ access to these centres in order to rig the rescheduled elections on Saturday 23rd February 2019.”
“Information available to us indicates that APC has procured armed thugs, military uniforms and branded military and police vehicles for the purpose of rigging the rescheduled elections.”
They added “Of all these sinister actions, the most alarming is the directive given by the President to the military and the police’ to deal ruthlessly and where necessary, kill any person who they consider to be disturbing the voting process.”
“ With this Presidential Order, therefore, the military and the Police now have the motivation-to use maximum violence to disrupt the voting process at will and even kill PDP supporters who try to resist or question the legitimacy of their unlawful activities at the polling stations. The address of the Chief of Army Staff on 20th February, 2019 on the subject confirms our grave fears for the safety of our people during the elections.”
