The All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State chapter on Monday called on its supporters to remain steadfast in their support of the party.
This is just as the party described the March 19 rerun elections in the state as a violence-ridden sham and reiterated its demand for its outright cancelation by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs to the Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, who made this known in a statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital, also expressed surprise at the hurried release by security agencies of some aides to Governor of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike, who were arrested for alleged electoral offences and violence during the abandoned rerun elections into National and State Assembly seats.
The party wondered how all the suspects were allowed to go home and continue with their normal businesses despite the sensitivity of the allegations against them.
One of the aides, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Emeka Woke, was arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, for allegedly attempting to assassinate the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside; Mr. Ikanya and the APC deputy governorship candidate in the 2015 elections, Hon. Asita O. Asita.
It said: “We are shocked and left speechless by the speed with which the Secretary to Rivers State Government (SSG), Mr. Kenneth Kobani; Wike’s Special Assistant on Special Projects, Mr. Cyril Dum Wite and the governor’s Chief of Staff, Emeka Woke, were released and allowed to go home, despite the overwhelming evidence against them.
“Kobani was caught red-handed aiding rigging during the March 19 rerun polls, while Wite was caught with N40 million cash, arms, police and army uniforms in his car.
“On March 20, gunmen operating in two jeeps belonging to Woke, opened fire on a vehicle conveying Peterside, Ikanya and Asita, who were on their way from the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
“Our hopes were initially raised when Wike’s implicated aides were arrested for questioning; we thought that justice would be made to take its course. We are disappointed that these men have been hastily released and left off the hook, instead of being vigorously investigated and charged before courts of competent jurisdiction. This is sad and unfortunate”.
Rivers APC urged security agencies in the state to conduct their activities with impartiality and ensure that they are not bought by Governor Nyesom Wike, in his alleged “desperation to completely conquer and possess the state by hook or crook”.
The party advised its members and supporters not to be demoralised by the turn of events, but to keep hope alive.
It assured that the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would bring about the promised change in all ramifications.
