By Chinyere Aruogu
Tension and fear have enveloped Rivers State, popularly called “Garden City” as the people file out today, Saturday, December 10 to cast their ballot in the rerun election that has pitted the ruling party in the state, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against the ruling party at the centre, the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Since last week when activities peaked concerning today’s poll, residents of Rivers State have wondered why the utterances from the political parties’ leaders and the security agencies have tended to portray the state as one where war instead of election is going to take place.
The rerun elections are to be held in all the three Senate seats and 10 House of Representatives mostly on account of judicial decisions which upturned the outcome of the elections that took place during the 2015 general elections.
Efforts to hold the elections within the time stipulated by the courts and the Electoral Act before now were thwarted due to violence and threat of same by the major gladiators.
The police authorities on Thursday, December 8, deployed 28,000 officers and men to Rivers for the exercise with the army and other security agents also deploying their personnel.
The leadership of the APC also on Thursday went to Rivers for a rally with 10 of its governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly and other party bigwigs. During the rally the politicians made comments that most Rivers indigenes frown on as not in the interest of the state.
Chairman of the APC, John Ogigie- Oyegun told supporters at the rally that they came to Rivers State in full force, with the whole federal might, an indication that they were battle ready.
The minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi reportedly said the rerun election was about their lives just as the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje reportedly charged APC supporters to shoot anyone if they are shot by their PDP counterparts. Consequently, the state government declared Ganduje a persona non grata .
Governor Nyesom Wike complained to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris that it was deliberate to withdraw his Chief Security Officer (CSO) just to leave him bare and vulnerable.
“I am pleading with you, my life is very important. I will take any CSO you bring to me that I don’t know. This is a matter of security and protection, it is not what you do with levity,” Wike told Idris.
A Port Harcourt resident, Andrew Ndukaome told Armadanews on Friday, December 9 that he will not leave his house throughout the exercise because the signal from both parties portends war and not election.
Another electorate, Iheanyi Ofili, said both the PDP and APC chieftains instigating violence have their children outside the country, and urged Rivers indigenes, particularly the youths, not to stake their future for politicians who are only after winning election and not their wellbeing. “All the noise they ar making are not for our good but for their good and the good of their children, family members and cronies,” Ofili said, adding that he will not bother voting for anyone.
Earlier Ndukaome had complained about the militarization of the Rivers environment just because of rerun poll, saying it is a shame that Nigeria is still at that stage where election is conducted as a do or die affair when smaller countries like Ghana and Gambia recently held general elections where reports of violence were not a priority.
Meanwhile, the Office of the National Chairman of the APC has said Oyegun was misrepresentation in the comments at Thursday’s mega rally the Party held ahead of today’s legislative re-run elections in Rivers State.
Edwin Ikhinmwin, Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman wrote in a statement on Friday: “The journalism profession across all platforms – online, print and electronic – has a duty to adhere strictly to ethical standards expected of the journalism profession. No news medium is exempted from these ethical standards.
“The APC National Chairman has consistently advocated for peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible elections. The National Chairman will not be part of any plan that will lead to loss of innocent lives.
“The comment by the National Chairman at Thursday’s mega rally was clear. The APC is on a rescue mission in Rivers State to save the people from the blood thirsty and oppressive regime in the State. He called on APC supporters to protect their votes. He expressed the determination of the federal government to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible Rivers state re-run election on Saturday through the massive deployment of security, so that voters do not stay away out of fear.”