The Rivers re-run elections which held on December 10 have come and
gone, but the bitter pains brought by the exercise will last forever in the
memories of families who lost love ones. Godson Amos is one of those who lost
their lives in the state allegedly to bullets on the day of the election in
Mguitanwo community, Emohua local government area. His family members told
Vanguard that it was hard to believe that their brother, a final year student
in the University of Port Harcourt was no more. “It is difficult to say that my
younger brother is no more. We heard he was shot dead by security agents on
election day in our village”, one family member said.
With 28,000 police men, 18 gunboats , 3 helicopters , horses and dogs
deployed by the Police to the state to ensure security of lives and property
during the elections, many thought that the exercise would be bloodless this
time around. The foregoing number excludes deployment from the Army, Navy,
Airforce and the Department of State Security, DSS on that day. The Police also
suffered a major loss as DSP Akali Mohammed and his orderly were abducted and
later beheaded by suspected cultists in Uju community in Ogba Egeema Ndoni
local government area. The late Police officer was at the head of a police team
from Mopol 48 to the community to take on cultists who allegedly held the area
under siege when they met their untimely death in the hands of the cultists who
laid ambush for them. The cultists hijacked their patrol vehicle and
disappeared with their riffles. About 16 corps members were also reportedly
abducted in the state during the elections and rescued by security men.
The story of violence echoed in all three senatorial districts. In Bori,
headquarters of Khana local government area, a young man was allegedly shot
dead by SARS operatives. INEC said it could not conclude the exercise in Akuku
Toru local government and some parts of Etche on the election day because of
violence. South South Commissioner in INEC, Dr Lecky Mustapha told newsmen at
the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt that the electoral body had to
reschedule elections in those areas because of violence. The total number of
those who were killed during the exercise was unknown as at press time. But
what went wrong despite the heavy security in the state? This is an issue for
thorough investigation. Governor Nyesom Wike, Caretaker Committee Chairman,
Ikwerre local government area , Mr Sam Nwonosike at different times alleged
harassment of voters by soldiers and the police. They also alleged invasion of
collation centres with security operatives by top politicians of the APC “I
anticipated it. I tried to let the world to know that these are the plans of
the security agencies . “In all my political career, I have never experienced
this kind of invasion by security agencies. What causes violence is when you
give certain persons undue advantage,” the governor said. “Be assured that we
are resisting it, it may take our lives, but we will resist to the last. That
is what is expected , when you are fighting for freedom. You must make
sacrifices. “It is unfortunate that we are congratulating the opposition for
winning in Ghana, but here the military are directly involved in rigging and
hijacking materials . They say that they want to give Rivers State Governor
problems, but you are not giving Rivers State Governor problems, you are giving
Nigeria problems”, the governor added. For the Senator Elect, Rivers South East
Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe of the APC, security agencies were
professional during the exercise. In a statement released by his media aide, Mr
Parry Benson he commended the federal government for giving opportunity for
people to vote. “All the security responses have been prompt and adequate.
The Nigerian government has tried to give everybody an opportunity to
actually cast their ballot all across the senatorial district and that is
because the people have been so eager to have an opportunity to vote. Meantime,
the Police and the army in separate statements denied allegations of
partisanship. General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port
Harcourt, Major General Kasimu Abdulkarim dismissed the allegations against the
army as unfounded, insisting that soldiers only provided what he dubbed
parameter defence to ward off hoodlums during the elections. “It is true that
soldiers of 6 Division Nigerian Army provided security during the Rivers State
Legislative Re-run Election that was conducted today. In addition, the
allegations made by some respected politicians regarding deep involvement of
soldiers during the elections were aimed at tarnishing the positive image of
the Army. “Nigerian Army troops were in no way involved in any form of ballot
box snatching, neither were they involved in the escort of politicians as
alleged. They acted swiftly in response to security breaches in order to
enforce the law, provide aid to the Nigeria Police and other security agencies
especially in areas like Abonema, Etche, Gokhana, Ikwere, Eleme, Tai, Khana and
Omoku amongst others. Susceptibility of the mentioned areas warranted providing
security for the electoral officials, voters, international and local
observers, in conjunction with other security agencies by soldiers for a
peaceful election to thrive in the environment”, his statement read. The rerun
election was for three senatorial seats, eight House of Representatives seats
and ten House of Assembly seats. At the time of this report results had not
been released by INEC for all the seats contested for. INEC had so far
announced Senator Magnus Abe of the APC as winner of Rivers Southeast
senatorial elections, Senator George Sekibo of PDP as winner, Rivers East and
Senator Osinachukwu Ideozu of PDP as winner of Rivers West. PDP won Bonny state
constituency, Degema/Bonny federal constituency, the two constituency seats in
Asari Toru local government area. While the APC has also been declared winnerin
Tai/Oyigbo/Eleme Federal Constituency, Khana/Gokhana Federal Constituency
Gokana and Eleme state constituencies
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