Over 1000 of our members killed in PDP violence, Rivers APC alleges

Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of causing political violence that has claimed more than 1000 of its members from 2014 till date.

The party stated this while expressing its displeasure over alleged resumption of shooting and killings across the state since Governor Nyesom Wike led government of the PDP started nomination process for local government council election for chairmen and councilors in the state.

In a statement signed by Rivers APC publicity secretary, Chris Finebone, and entitled “Rein in your gunmen and stop endangering lives of Rivers people” the party said that Governor Wike must go beyond “disqualifying his gun-toting boys from contesting PDP primaries”, and “rein them in and allow law-abiding citizens to have their peace across the state.”

The statement read in part, “The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, is miffed and highly disturbed that since the nomination process for a legally compromised local government council election for chairmen and councilors by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, shootings and maiming have, once again, resumed across Rivers State.

“It is important to mention that the charade of an election is being organised by the PDP and for the PDP even though some fringe parties claim to participate.

“It is shocking to note that mere primaries for chairmen and councilors for a supposed local council election will result in the large scale shootings, maiming and violence that are now further compounding the dangers of kidnapping, robberies and killings that Rivers people and residents are living under.

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“Curiously but noteworthy is that, with the eruption of violence in the ongoing PDP council primaries in Rivers State, all doubts about those who are responsible for the electoral violence in the state have been cleared. Sadly, the violence by PDP members on fellow PDP members still carry collateral consequences on law-abiding people and residents of Rivers State including peace-loving members of the APC.

“Again, even as resort to violence takes centre stage in the ongoing PDP primaries, other electoral malfeasance are reportedly being perpetrated across the state. In Isiokpo, one Chukwudi Dimkpa has accused Gov. Wike and his henchmen of imposition of candidates. In Etche, materials were reportedly hijacked and aspirants beaten into coma. In Ibaa, individuals diverted materials. Similar cases have been reported across the state”, the party stated..

The APC then called on the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command and all other heads of security agencies in the state to do the needful to ensure that “the PDP-on-PDP violence currently pervading the state is contained from spilling out into full scale war”.

 

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