JUST IN! Police arrest, detain 21 INEC Ad-hoc staff in Rivers
- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state has laid a weighty allegation against the Nigeria police
- The party says 21 ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been arrested
- The PDP described the police as the security arm of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state have alleged that 21 ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Rivers state PDP chairman, Bro Felix Obuah
In a press statement sent to journalists today, January 12, the INEC staff arrested took part in the legislative re-run election in the state and served in areas where candidates of the PDP won.
The statement alleged that they were arrested last night and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, in Port Harcourt.
The statement further alleged that those arrested were transferred to Abuja this afternoon and they are being forced to confess receiving money from the Rivers state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
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Quoting unnamed sources in the statement, the PDP said more arrests would be made and those arrested will be transferred to Abuja and paraded during a press conference that would be organized by the Police High Command, in conjunction with the top leadership of the APC.
''This latest development undoubtedly, is a confirmation of the fact that the Police committee led by its chairman, Mr. Damain Okoro, that arrived the State yesterday, Wednesday, January 11, 2017, is on a mission of witch-hunt against the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, the PDP leadership and candidates of the party, who emerged victorious in the December 10, re-run election in Rivers state.'' the statement said.
The statement continued: ''It is unfortunate that the police under the current Inspector General of Police, IGP, have so abused their constitutional responsibilities and have now turned into a security arm of a political party, the APC.
''The PDP would have expected the police to be more professional, objective, apolitical, and uphold the tenets of the constitution and regulations as contained in the Electoral Act, relating to the role of security agencies in an election.
''Regrettably, the police in the case of Rivers state have become a tool of witch-hunt by the federal government and certain Rivers politicians of the APC.''
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On Wednesday, January 11, Rivers state Governor Wike berated the the Nigerian Police Special Joint Investigation Panel on the Rivers rerun legislative elections as the committee members paid him a visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor stated that the committee was established by the Inspector-General of Police with the aim of assisting the APC at the election tribunal.