The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Okrika local government area, Rivers State has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to provide adequate security during and after Presidential and national of assembly elections in the area.
The appeal followed the alleged uncovered plans by the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to unleash mayhem on APC members and voters in the LGA.
A statement by stakeholders of APC Okrika chapter in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday, alleged that the PDP has moved thugs and cultists from Ondo, Bayelsa and other states into Okrika and have concluded plans to station their gunboats at strategic locations to ensure that all the polling units in the riverine wards are hijacked at mid sea and results are drawn and submitted for collation.
The APC also alleged that the PDP has already purchased PVCs ahead of the polls
But in a swift reaction, PDP Spokesman in the state Darlington Orji denied the allegations discribing it as bogus and unfounded.
Orji queried the reason PDP could instigate trouble or involve in vote buying in an election that it will win.
According to him, “Everybody knows that it is APC that is known for violence. We are on the ground in the state, more so in Okrika, so why should PDP want to make trouble or think of vote buying in an election we are going to win.
“APC is not participating in the polls, they have been mobilizing their tugs to cause trouble during the exercise and the security operatives should be aware of that fact.” he said.
In the statement by APC they stated that “We have been reliably informed that PDP leaders have acquired uniforms of police, army and other security agencies with the intention to use these uniforms to perpetuate their evil plans and portray these security agencies in a bad light.
“They have procured PVC’s which they intend to give to strangers who are currently in Okrika ahead of the elections today.
“We have it on good authority that money has been paid to the officials of the independent national electoral commission (INEC) officials and these officials have accepted to collide with the PDP in rigging the elections.
“They have concluded plans to storm and burn all collation centres should their above plans fail to ensure the victory of the PDP in Okrika”.
They demanded that the commissioner of police, director DSS and President Muhammadu Buhari ensure that the conspiracy is not carried out at in Okrika.
They also demanded that the people of Okrika be given adequate security before, during and after the scheduled elections among others.
