APC kicks against Wike’s planned probe of re-run polls violence
The all Progressives Congress (APC) has described Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s decision to set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence and killings that occurred during the March 19, re-run legislative elections in the state as a ruse.
The state APC spokesperson, Chris Finebone, said the Governor’s action was self-serving and a mere smokescreen to rubbish his political opponents and divert attention from the violence and deaths which has been blamed on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters in the state.
He noted that the Governor is on record for having threatened violence and death to stakeholders long before and even during the re-run elections, saying there were no doubt that the several threats he issued to his supporters and associates gave rise to the widespread and wanton killings in the state during the exercise.
“The APC wishes to inform Gov. Nyesom Wike to consider the matter of the commission a total waste of time and resources, and dead on arrival. Taking a look at the members of the commission, the APC would like to advise Gov. Wike to look for a more honest means of compensating his supporters and their relations rather than sending them on a journey to nowhere or one that will suffer a stillbirth,” he said.
The APC recalled that following the killings associated with the 2015 electoral violence in Rivers State in 2015, the then governor, Chibuike Amaechi, had set up the Prof. Chidi Odinkalu led commission to unravel the issues behind the killings.
“But the PDP swiftly filed suit No. FHC/PHC/256/2015 at a Port Harcourt High Court against the sitting of that Commission. And one of the arguments by the PDP was that the former governor was an interested party in what happened during the elections and therefore should not have set up the panel,” APC said.
In order to forestall a repeat of the needless violence and fatalities in future elections, Gov. Wike had, in a state broadcast on Wednesday night, announced the setting up of a Judicial Commission to investigate the violence, killings and other related acts that occurred in parts of the State during the March 19, 2016 re-run elections and to make appropriate recommendations to government for implementation.
Members of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry are as follows: Hon. Justice Monima Wenike Danagogo, Chairman; Venerable John Adubasim, Member; Mrs. Douye Green, Member; Barr. Joseph Zabbey, Member; Engr. Luke Nwanodi, Member; and Mrs. Uche Uriri, Secretary.
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1 Comments
He should also set up a committee to probe while there is plenty of flood water on PortHarcourt roads this early in rainy season!
We will review and take appropriate action.