Wike Accuses Amaechi Of Plotting To Use Military, Police To Disrupt Polls In Rivers

The Governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, of plots to use some military and police personnel to disrupt elections in the state.

Governor Wike alleged that part of the plot was to bomb offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, destroy voting materials at registration area centers and disturb the peaceful conduct of the Saturday elections in the state.

The governor made this accusation during a state broadcast on Thursday, where he asked the people of the state to pray for God’s intervention to ensure peaceful elections in the state. He added:

“Credible intelligence has linked Rotimi Amaechi and his cohorts in the factionalised APC with plans to prevent the peaceful conduct of the general elections in Rivers State with the support of some unpatriotic military and police officers.”

According to the governor, a number of Hilux vehicles painted in military colours and gunboats donated by a top official of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) had been handed over to the militants to carry out the attacks across the state.

Wike expressed worry over what he tagged needless threats of violence by Amaechi, adding that Amaechi should be ready to accept the fate of Rivers APC because his “arrogance and refusal to follow due process” caused the crisis in the state party. He said:

“It is therefore most unfortunate that instead of using internal party mechanisms to settle the festering crisis before it was too late, Rotimi Amaechi chose to act with impunity and is now hunted by the unpleasant outcomes of his arrogance and disdain for due process.

“Even at that, the Supreme Court has spoken and the only rational path left for Rotimi Amaechi is to recognise the fact that justice has prevailed over impunity.”