The Rivers State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Chris Finebone, tells CHUKWUDI AKASIKE that his party was not part of the crisis that marred the recent bye-election in the state
INEC recently announced the suspension of the Port Harcourt Constituency 3 bye-election. Do you think it was a right decision from the electoral commission?
It was obviously a wrongly-premised decision. It is a decision that runs contrary to relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. The job of determining whether the process of election should be called off or suspended due to violence is that of the security agencies and the courts. INEC overreached itself by suspending an election that had already reached the collation stage. I am very sure INEC knows its action was wrong. However, we suspect that the decision was occasioned by other extraneous factors other than violence. I will rest it there for now.
The PDP has accused the state chairman of your party of conniving with SARS to disrupt the election? What is your reaction to this?
There is absolutely no truth in that accusation. I think it is a wild accusation meant to divert away attention from the well-known fact that Governor Nyesom Wike’s Chief Security Officer was (allegedly) mobilised to intervene and disrupt the election as soon as it became obvious that the PDP candidate was losing in almost all the polling units. It is indeed unfortunate. We believe the police will unravel what happened. I am sure you have read the press statement by the Commissioner of Police especially to the effect that the bye-election was perhaps the best in recent times because no death or damage to property was recorded.
There is also the allegation that the state APC chairman was present at some of the wards where voting was to take place against the rule guiding the restriction of movement. How true is this allegation?
Let them prove. It must have been the apparition of Ojukaye Flag-Amachree that they claimed to see as alleged by them. The state party chairman was not anywhere near where they are claiming he was. It’s all a facade to muddle the matter in order to cover-up their misdeeds on that day.
The state APC is threatening to go to court over the suspension of the bye-election. What informed your decision?
Of course, the party may be forced to take that route if the signs and vibes we are getting from Obo Effanga continues. We believe that the very convoluted memo suspending an election that was already at the collation stage calls for serious appraisal by INEC headquarters especially considering the long-held political views of the Rivers REC, Obo Effanga. The wordings of the letter gave him away so easily. With his cover totally blown and shattered into pieces, we expect Mr. Effanga to apologise to the government and Nigerians and resign to preserve whatever is left of his credibility. He obviously misled his bosses in Abuja.
INEC had continuously complained about how difficult it is to conduct election in Rivers State; can you guarantee that with the attitude of some politicians in the state, the 2019 elections would be free, fair and violent-free?
INEC knows the Rivers person with the reputation that brings about violence in the state. The governor of Rivers State is the only one on record to publicly threaten everyone including INEC personnel with death before every election. Trying to unravel the violence in Rivers State elections should start from there. I am sure Nigerians know those behind the violence, killings and rigging that manifest in elections in Rivers State. Such was not the case prior to 2015; it is easy to know why it took root from 2015 to date. Governor Nyesom Wike has a lot of explaining to do in that regard. He knows it.
How frequent does the APC in Rivers State educate its supporters and members on the need to shun violence?
The Rivers APC leadership abhors violence of any kind. Perhaps that has made us sitting ducks to be plugged by Governor Wike and his people. We regularly educate our members to remain on the path of non-violence despite the provocations; that we will continue to do. However, it does not include turning the other cheek when slapped. Assuming both cheeks are slapped, what else will you turn or offer to be slapped? So, we also let our members know that if they are slapped on one cheek, they should ensure that no one slaps the other cheek; instead they should return the slap because we are not second class citizens in our own state.
Apart from Ojukaye, the PDP also alleged that Martin Manna, who is from Ahoada, was also seen on the day of election.
That is a fat lie taken from the pit of hell. Let me tell you. The PDP people know the capacity of the two young men they are blackmailing. They are so frightened of Ojukaye and Manna. That fright is chiefly suffered by Governor Nyesom Wike. It is just propaganda to mask their fright.
Do you have any evidence to prove that the PDP was responsible for the disruption of the bye-election last Saturday?
Yes, we do have video clips indicating that the PDP leaders and the CSO of Governor Wike led teams of the Government House security personnel and hoodlums to disrupt voting on that day. We shall tender those pieces of evidence when the occasion calls for it and the entire world will know who these PDP fellows truly are.
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