By Daniel Kanu
Assistant Politics Editor
Chairman of the People’s Democratic party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Tahir Shehu, has
raised the alarm that the APC is planning to use security agencies to intimidate voters in today’s governorship election to pave the way for manipulation of votes.
He said, “The government in power is planning to rig the election at all cost. That is the pressure on our party and other candidates. But our people are ready to protect their votes no matter the intimidation they are subjected to.”
Also, Taraba Governor, Mr Darius Ishaku on Friday alleged that there were plans by the APC-led Federal Government to use security operatives to arrest prominent members of the PDP in order to perfect their rigging plans.
Ishaku made the allegations at a press briefing in Government House, Jalingo ahead of the elections in the state today.
He called on security operatives not to abandon their constitutional role.
In a similar vein, the PDP in Rivers on Friday in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the PDP Chairman in Rivers, Jerry Needam, said its members across the state lived in fear as soldiers had been invading homes, raiding vehicles and molesting their supporters.
The statement read, “PDP members are being hunted and hounded by soldiers. This is happening simultaneously in all the major roads in the state.
“In all the roads leading to Ogoni, Andoni and Opobo, Ikwerre, Kalabari, Ahoada and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, passengers are being searched and any person spotted to belong to the PDP, is brought down, beaten and tortured.”
Wike meets US, British diplomats
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday met with the United States Consul-General to Nigeria, John Bray, and the political officer of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Louis Edwards.
The meeting, which lasted for about one hour, had the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo; Rivers State PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, and Senator Lee Maeba in attendance.
It was gathered that the diplomats’ visit to the governor came on the heels of arrests of some PDP leaders by security agencies.
“The Rivers State Government and the PDP had issued several statements, alerting the world to the illegal activities of security agencies ahead of the elections.
“Wike tabled the concerns of the government and the people of Rivers State before the American Embassy and the British High Commission,” a Government House statement issued in Port Harcourt read.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Emma Okah, has confirmed the arrest of the Education Commissioner, Tamuno Sisi Gogo-Jaja, by a group of soldiers, who raided her residence in GRA, Phase 3.
Okah explained that though Gogo-Jaja had been released, some members of her family were still in military custody.
Gogo-Jaja was arrested on Wednesday and was released on Thursday.