Governor Wike Reacts: I have never experienced this kind of invasion

Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike Yesterday Saturday accused the Nigerian Army and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS) of the Police of hijacking election materials in Rivers South-East district.

Wike made the claim while reacting to the alleged mass shootings by security operatives in Khana, Gokana, Akuku-Toru and Etche Local Government Areas (LGAs) during the elections.

He also accused the security operatives of killing PDP agents, and working to deliver a particular candidate in the senatorial district.

Wike alleged that the security agents were deployed to the state to manipulate the result of the polls, a claim that ran contrary to INEC and Police interim report about the election.

"The military have been used to rig rerun elections in parts of the state,” Wike claimed.

He lamented that some wards in Khana, Gokana, Etche and Opobo/Nkoro LGAs, electoral materials were snatched and accused the security personnel of masterminding the act.

Wike claimed that one Mr Charles Anyanwu, an Etche APC Chieftain was arrested with two AK47.

He alleged that the security agencies might release him.

He said that “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.

“Be assured that we are resisting it; it may take our lives, but we will resist it to the last. That is what is expected, when you are fighting for freedom, you must make sacrifices,” the governor said.

Wike however said that he had informed a National Commissioner of INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner on the problems in Khana and Gokana areas.

He said that he was assured that action would be taken.

NAN reports that the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers, Aniedi Ikowak, has hailed the peaceful conduct of the rerun legislative elections.

He made the remark while monitoring the election at Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor area. He said reported cases of rumours on skirmishes would be investigated.

Also speaking, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations (DIG), Habila Joshak, also scored the conduct of the election high.

He said contrary to some reports of violence, the exercise was generally peaceful.

Joshak also hailed the people of the state for conducting themselves orderly.

He urged the media to verify information before going to press.