Audio clip on me sponsored by APC, says Wike

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring a contrived audio clip in which he allegedly threatened an Independent National Electoral Commission ‎(INEC) official to rig last Saturday’s election in favour of his party.

The governor said the audio clip published by an online media organisation was produced to divert public attention from the massive electoral fraud by the INEC and Police and military killings that marred the rerun national and state legislative polls.

Wike explained that the audio clip was fabricated using audio software, pointing out that he never spoke with any electoral officer or anyone for that matter, either in person or over the phone, seeking to influence the elections.

The governor, who stated this during a chat with journalists in Port Harcourt, added: “When you look at certain things, you just laugh.

“At no time did I speak to any electoral officer, let alone issue threats to any electoral officer. There is nowhere I spoke to an electoral officer, threatening him or her, as the case maybe.  I never spoke with anybody; I never threatened anybody.  

“Nobody can say that he sat with me or that I threatened him or how. Let any electoral officer come forward to say that I call him or her on phone. It is totally not correct.

“The major issue is, did the Police participate in rigging the election? Did the Army participate in rigging the election? Did INEC compromise?

“The Police are denying somebody that was captured on video. That is what they are trying to cover up,” he said. Wike further said: “Face the reality and stop chasing shadows. Let them show me. What is audio clip? What can’t this government do?

“I don’t have an Orderly. I don’t have a Chief Security Officer. I don’t have a Camp Commandant. All were taken away before the election.”

The governor regretted that rather than bring the SARS Commander, Akin Fakorede, to justice for his criminal activities captured on video during the rerun elections, the Police authorities have arrested the policemen who accompanied him (Wike) to stop Fakorede from swapping Rivers East Senatorial District results sheet.

“They have now arrested and detained the policemen who accompanied me to the collation centre to stop that criminal. Even Fakorede, who was caught on video, has been released, so that the Police can bungle it.

“What kind of country is this? And you are telling me that they are circulating a contrived audio clip? You caught a man on camera committing crime, but you have swept it under the carpet,” Wike said.