The Rivers APC 2023 Campaign Council has accused the former mayor of Port Harcourt, Allwell Ihunwo of leading hoodlums to attack its governorship Campaign Rally at the traditional grounds, Rumuwoji Town in Mile 1, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
The party said the Mayor led hundreds of armed thugs to kill and disrupt its rally.
The Thursday incident left five party faithful with various degrees of severe injuries from the detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), known in the local parlance as dynamite.
Sogbeye C. Eli, Spokesman of Rivers APC 2023 Campaign Council said the attack followed threats by the PDP thugs to lock out the APC from the traditional grounds for the Rally.
“We have no knowledge of arrest of any suspect even though a formal report has been lodged with the Police authorities at the Mile 1 Police Station.
“Curiously, while the PDP Government and leaders across the State are violating the rights of opposition parties by attacking campaigns in the 23 LGAs, the factional PDP itself had always acted in gross violation of the Electoral Act. In clear contravention of Section 92 of the Electoral Act 2022 providing for the “Prohibition of Certain Conduct at Political Campaigns”, the PDP conducted her campaigns in Ikwerre Local Government Area at St. Martin’s Anglican Church in Omagwa only on Tuesday this week.
“Without a shred of doubt, the source and principal stimulus of these streak of savage attacks and political banditry on the APC and other opposition parties in Rivers State is the Governor himself. Nyesom Wike set the tone for the ongoing political violence with the enactment of his repressive and dictatorial Executive Orders 21 and 22 which obstructs and constitute infringements on the rights of other political parties and candidates to campaign for votes as allowed by law in Rivers State.
“In the light of the foregoing, we hereby call on the security agencies domiciled in the State, particularly the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command and Director of Department of State Security Services, to rein in the Governor, Local Government Council Chairmen and other PDP officials. An end must be put to these provocative primitive actions or we shall be forced to defend ourselves with every legitimate tool at our disposal.
“This call is imperative given the shocking report on ARISE TV 9pm news last night quoting the Commissioner of Police as categorically denying the attack on our Rally with IEDs. It is clear that the Police Commissioner has more information on this dastardly attack and we hereby place him on notice that we would not only make him give full disclosure for what transpired before, during and after yesterday’s incident, we shall not condone any attempt by anyone no matter how highly positioned to undermine the security of lives and properties of members of the Rivers APC”.
Meanwhile, the Gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Rivers State, Tonye Cole says Violence has no place in the state’s politics.
Speaking on the attack at the party’s campaign ground, Cole said he was deeply sad to see some of the party’s supporters injured by an explosion at their rally at Ojukwu Field, Mile One, Diobu, Port-Harcourt.
“Prior to the rally yesterday, we had consulted the Police over reports of threats to attack us today.
“We will not be threatened or deterred from exercising our civil rights to come out and support a long over due wave of change in our beloved Rivers State.
“While introductions were going on, they threw a stick of dynamite followed by a round of gunshots. We were very proactive and prevented our people from panicking. This prevented a stampede and the rally wasn’t interrupted at all but rather galvanized our support base.
“We also arrested the person who threw the dynamite and he is currently in the custody of the State CID.
“We will play our part in upholding the rules of democracy and we call on the security agencies in Rivers State to look into this, and ensure the safety of the people they are called to serve and protect”.
However, the Rivers State Police Command has said there was no explosion at an open rally of the APC at Rumuwoji community town hall/playing ground in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Spokesperson of the command, Grace Iringe-Koko said that before the commencement of the rally, the internal crisis within the community over which faction should control the community playing ground/town hall reaved its ugly head.
“It was alleged that the CDC Chairman collected the sum of two hundred-thousand-naira (N200,000.00) from APC as payment for renting the playground/town hall. Incidentally, he shared the money to only the Chiefs and members of his faction. The other faction that didn’t benefit from the sharing insisted that the hall would not be used, except and until they were giving their share of the money. Consequently, a fracas ensued. Two persons were reportedly injured.
“The fracas was not between members of APC and any other political party but between the internal factions within the said community. The DC Operations, Area Commander Port Harcourt, the O/C SIB and DPO Mile one Diobu, were on ground to intervene and restore peace and security at the venue. Thus, the fracas did not affect the APC rally, which ended peacefully.
“There was no explosion before or during the rally. However, the Commissioner of Police has directed the DC State CID and O/C Bomb Disposal Unit to investigate and confirm the veracity of the rumour currently making the rounds on social media.
“It should be noted that Rumuwoji community is factionalized into two; not divided on political party lines, rather factionalized as a result of Chieftaincy tussle. The fracas was defined in these lines.
“Meanwhile, members of the public are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses and maintain peace. The Command reiterates that it is committed to protecting life and property of all residents in Rivers State”.
