FOR THE RECORD: Rivers Rerun: INEC Office Bombed In Ogoni

Bombed out INEC office in Bori, Gokana, Rivers State

Barely a week to the July 30 inconclusive rerun in Rivers State, the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was bombed yesterday in Bori-Ogoni, the traditional headquarters of Ogoniland and the seat of Khana Local Government Area of the state.

The Nation report continues:

Rivers Elected Councilors Forum in the 8th Legislative Assembly, through its Secretary, Ekine Nkrokeokia, accused desperate politicians of being behind the arson, and urging security agencies to ensure thorough investigation.

The elected councilors described the bombing of INEC office as very unfortunate, condemnable, wicked and ungodly, while accusing desperate politicians of trying to create unnecessary tension and crisis in the state, thereby preventing the election of popular candidates.

Also speaking, the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, through his Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, accused members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of bombing the INEC office in Bori, in view of their unpreparedness for the polls.

But, the state Chairman of APC, Chief Davies Ikanya, through the party’s Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, declared in a telephone interview that Obuah, Needam and other members of the PDP in the state should be held responsible for the arson, insisting that APC members were fully prepared for the elections.

The rerun will hold in eight LGAs, spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike visits the bombed out INEC office in Bori, Gokana, Rivers State

Investigation yesterday in Port Harcourt revealed that the INEC office was bombed in the early hours of Friday by yet-to-be identified persons.

The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), disclosed that investigation into the incident had been ordered.

The PDP chairman claimed that bombing of the INEC office was part of APC’s plots to ensure that the July 30 rerun was postponed, alleging that the party (APC) was not ready for the elections.

“It is another deliberate action by the APC to create a state of insecurity, not only in Khana LGA and the Ogoni area, but in Rivers State as a whole, apparently to justify their demand for the postponement of the election, having realised that its candidates in the election from the area will not succeed in the poll.

Interestingly, Governor Nyesom Wike, while addressing the party’s supporters on Thursday at the Rivers East senatorial campaign rally at Okehi, Etche LGA of the state, declared that anyone posted to Rivers State, with the aim of rigging the elections, should inform his family the location of his hidden wealth, stating that the person would face the treatment reserved for armed robbers.

He accused the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, of concluding plans to postpone the rerun, allegedly in deference to the fear of defeat expressed by the leadership of Rivers APC.

Rivers APC’s Publicity Secretary, yesterday in Port Harcourt, asked to stop threatening everyone.

“The callous and mindless mudslinging by Wike is true-to-type, especially when he wants to stir the water muddy, in order to create a smokescreen to perpetrate his evil machinations. The potpourri of blackmail, threats and empty bravado are all part of his curious style of politics.”

'Those Who Burnt INEC Office In Bori Are Afraid Of Elections' - Governor Wike

Media reports that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says that those who burnt the Bori office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are the same politicians who wrote to INEC seeking postponement of the rerun elections on the ground of security.

Addressing journalists after inspecting the burnt section of INEC Khana Local Government Office in Bori, Governor Wike said the arson should not serve as an excuse for the elections to the postponed.

The governor regretted that politicians who are afraid of the rerun elections would go to the extent of burning down public facility to convince INEC that the rerun elections should be shifted. He noted that no election materials have been deposited at the office, pointing out that the burnt section only serve as a hall for collation.

He said: "Those who burnt this office were not ready for the elections. They don't want INEC to conduct the elections because they know that they don't have the chances of winning. "They want to use the issue of security to justify the request for postponement. If not, INEC has not brought election materials to this office. What they have done is to scare INEC."

He added: "For us, we are not surprised. We know this is what they have planned to do." He advised INEC not to be deterred by the arson. He noted that the commission should go ahead with the elections as scheduled. The governor directed the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the crime. He advised politicians not to see elections as a do or die affair, saying that they must submit themselves to the will of the people.

He said: "We will make sure that this does not dampen the spirit of INEC. I have directed the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Local Government Area to immediately rebuild the burnt office". The governor said that the state government will provide an alternative office for INEC to conduct the July 30 elections in the area. He said the people have been duly mobilized and they are ready to cast their votes. Earlier, the Khana Divisional Police Officer, Stephen Okunade said there was no security at the INEC office at the time of the arson.

He said the lone private security guard was absent when the perpetrators struck. He added that the private guard who has been detained only returned while the office was burning. The governor was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Uche Anozie and top government functionaries.
Source: lindaikejiblog.com