Rivers PDP, APC disagree over alleged assault on INEC official during legislative polls

The Rivers chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers have disagreed over the alleged battery of a senior official of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Dr. Austin Udege by the Akin Fakorede-led Special Anti Robbery Squad, (SARS) in Port Harcourt during collation for the December 10, 2016 legislative rerun election in the state.

While the PDP said the official was beaten up on the order of former state governor and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the APC on the other hand, maintained that the minister never visited the Garden City during the exercise let alone ordered the assault of anyone.

PDP’s state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Samuel Nwanosike, who was reacting to remarks credited to the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, that Governor Nyesom Wike should be blamed for the dismissal of the six police officers over alleged improper conduct at the collation centre, retorted that the minister should instead be chastised for allegedly storming the Ikwerre event venue with about 800 soldiers and 1,000 armed police officers.

But his APC counterpart, Chris Finebone, said Amaechi only visited his hometown, Ubima, where he cast his vote. He wondered how the minister could have ordered policemen to beat up someone when he was never at the said venue, cautioning the PDP against being divisive.

Finebone noted that the dismissal of the cops was in order since they committed electoral malpractices.