Governor Nyesom Wike: challenged to prove rigging allegations

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command has challenged Governor NYESOM WIKE to immediately release the purported audio-visual clip on his latest allegation about plots by CP Francis Odensaya’s strategy to rig the forthcoming rerun legislative elections in parts of the state.

Governor WIKE had during a public function boasted that the state government was in possession of audio-visual footage of the alleged plot to rig the rerun. The Governor accused CP ODESANYA of involvement in the plot with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The State Governor was speaking in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area while flagging off the rehabilitation of the Abonnema General Hospital.

Governor WIKE said the video would be made public through different media platforms in a bid to expose the State Police Command and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

According to a statement released by his Media Assistant,Simeon Nwakaudu, Governor WIKE further claimed that six hundred policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad have been distributed to APC chieftains across the state.

The Rivers State Police Command has denied all the claims by the Governor and challenged him to release the purported video to the public without delay.

The Police Public Relations Officer, NNAMDI OMONI in a telephone interview challenged the Governor to release the footage “It is a mere allegation. But if they claim they have a video-clip on any alleged rigging plan let them release it”

In same vein,the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, ANIEDI IKOIWAK, has dismissed all the allegations made by Governor Wike against the electoral commission.

IKOIWAK said it was not true that the Independent National Electoral Commission had handed over sensitive electoral materials to chieftains of one of the political parties, as recently alleged by the Governor.

On the question of whether the security situation in Rivers State had improved beyond what was obtainable before the election was postponed, the Resident Electoral Commissioner stressed the need for political leaders in the state to reign in their followers.

ANIEDI IKOIWAK said in as much as there was need to strengthen the deployment of security personnel, politicians must also work towards curtailing the use of thugs to disrupt the elections.