17th March, 2016
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers has declared that the attempt by the Police High Command to arrest the State PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah and others 48 hours to the rerun elections is politically motivated and aimed at giving advantage to the APC.
The governor also said that by declaring the Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Sabomabo Jackrich wanted days to the elections, the police may have been influenced by political considerations.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers capital on Thursday during a radio phone-in programme, Wike said the arrests are politically motivated and will be resisted by the people.
He said that the Police High Command brought in policemen from Abuja to disobey the court order restraining security agencies from arresting PDP leaders before the elections.
He said that he has given the security agencies all the logistics and support required for the elections as Chief Security Officer of the state, pointing out that, the security agencies have a duty to work within the law.
“Today, we received information that policemen from Abuja are in the state to arrest the state chairman of PDP. If the police want to arrest PDP leaders 48 hours to the election, the action is simply politically motivated,” he said.
He described as unfortunate reports credited to President Muhammadu Buhari on the violence in Rivers State, noting that, the President never contacted him for explanation on the security situation in the state.
The governor said PDP is prepared for the re-run elections, but the APC and the Federal Government are not prepared as they are merely interested in antics which will not work.
On the petition written by the Rivers State Government to the embassies of 50 countries, Wike said it is a confirmation of the readiness of the PDP to participate in credible polls. He said already that the United States, Britain and Canada amongst other countries have requested meetings with him on the issue.
He added that the government has uncovered plans by some politically motivated individuals to ensure that card readers fail in parts of the state, especially in Obio/Akpor LGA.
Wike said that PDP will win the rerun elections because the party started preparing since December last year when the elections were nullified by the court of Appeal.
He said: “APC cannot win any elections in Rivers State. Do a Local Government by Local Government analysis and you will understand why the people prefer the PDP “.