The political atmosphere in Rivers State over the rerun election became tensed Thursday as leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed Port Harcourt and called on their party members to prepare for war over tomorrow poll.
APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, during the party’s rally held at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt declared that the full might of the Federal Government had been deployed to the state for the elections and urged APC supporters to retaliate any act of violence meted out to them.
“The whole federal might is here; the whole federal executive is here. The entire federal might has heard your cry. There is only one thing; we respect Rivers people. Enough is enough! If they push you, push them. We are on a rescue mission. This state will be rescued,” he declared.
Present at the rally were 12 APC state governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly and other party chieftains.
The Kano State governor, Mohammed Ganduje urged APC members not to fail to retaliate if they were attacked by members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the elections.
Minister of Transportation and former governor of the state, Chibuike Amaechi, said: “This is what is called election of our lives. You know I have never spoken like this before. Do not kill anybody, but don’t allow yourselves to be killed. We also have to protect ourselves.
“I don’t want to hear that they took over the ballot sheet from you. If they snatch it, collect it back from them. My phone will be switched off. Nobody should call me. The only time you will call me is from 6pm when you would have won the election.”
Meanwhile, the state government condemned the leadership of the APC for allegedly inciting people into violence. The Commissioner for information and Communication, Dr Austin Tam-George lamented what he described as the manifest act of incitement by Governor Ganduje and others.
He alleged that Ganduje had charged APC supporters to resort to violence by saying “If they shoot you, take cover and shoot them. This is a shameful and egregious invitation to violence by the Kano State governor.” He therefore called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately ensure the governor departs Rivers State to forestall breakdown of law and order.
Also, a coalition of over 70 civil society groups to monitor the elections said they were gravely concerned that the major political parties had repeated the practice of making incendiary allegations as well as direct and indirect threats ahead of the poll.
A preliminary statement by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room on the elections, that was made available to The Guardian said that the inflammatory statements had raised expectations of violence and abuse of the process, and would reduce public participation and confidence in the exercise.
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