By NWADIKE UGOCHUKWU, Port Harcourt
THE Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm over revelations by Magnus Abe, All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers South-East Senatorial candidate, that he has reached out to security chiefs, held several meetings with them, and also influenced the transfer of some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff, as plots by the desperate Abe and the APC to instigate the militarization of the state, hijack ballot papers and rig the forthcoming re-run national and state Assemblies elections in the state.
The PDP also revealed that the series of coordinated, incisive, provocative, false and completely misleading statements emanating from the APC and its defeated candidate, Dakuku Peterside, painting Rivers State as “a killing field, hunting and killing APC members,” are all targeted at instigating state of emergency where soldiers will be drafted in to supervise and ensure the success of their well planned, scripted and coordinated hijack of ballot papers, result sheets and rigging of the re-run elections.
PDP noted that the military invasion and occupation of Ogoni, and the moving around with lorry loads of soldiers by Magnus Abe are all pointers to their planned use of the military during the rerun elections.
The Party recalled that over the weekend in Luubara, Khana Local Government Area, Magnus Abe, at an APC rally, narrated how the Army will be there for members of the APC. He also explained that he has held several meetings with some security chiefs in Abuja, boasting of influencing the transfer of some INEC staff from Rivers State.
The PDP also exposed a secret meeting Dakuku Peterside also held with some security chiefs ahead of the re-run elections, which led to the recent false alarm he raised.
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The PDP condemned the APC for claiming that all dead persons in Rivers State are its members killed by PDP, stating that they were obvious cases of clash by two cult groups, casualties of motor accidents and natural deaths, but APC continues to lay claim to them as its members.
The Party called on the security agencies to properly investigate all claims by the APC on the killing of its members to ascertain the true source of their death.
The PDP also urged the general public to discountenance the misleading claims and falsehood peddled through the social and traditional media by the APC on political issues and development in the state and the nation.
It wonders why the APC specializes in disseminating incisive statements and using blackmail and deceit as its preferred method in trying to persuade the masses.
“We warn APC leaders to jettison their plot to use the military to subvert and rig the forthcoming elections and to change these known ill-conceived tactics of telling lies, making frivolous claims and excessive propaganda, and adopt civilized means of mobilizing the electorate, if it must be seen as a responsible party,” PDP declared.
The PDP also urged the military authorities to beware of desperate politicians, and to resist being used as tools to manipulate the re-run elections.