PDP RAISES ALARM OVER MASSIVE DEPLOYMENT OF SOLDIERS TO RIVERS COMMUNITY

Secondus

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council, has raised alarm over alleged massive deployment of soldiers to Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers State, ahead of the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections.

It accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to disrupt the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections and the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State Assembly elections in no fewer than nine local government areas in Rivers State.

Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council in the state, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, who spoke at a press conference in Port Harcourt yesterday, alleged that the APC is behind the deployment of the soldiers, which it intends using to wreak havoc in communities in the state during the rescheduled general elections.

Anabraba said: “This press conference was called to let Nigerians and international observers know of the evil plans of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in conjunction with security agencies to disrupt and destabilize the election. The desperation of APC knows no bounds; they are ready to do anything to scatter all the elections in the state.

“To tell you the level of their desperation, just this morning, I got information that the Nigerian Army had forcefully occupied my property in Abonnema and brought in soldiers who stationed there to cause havoc and crisis in Abonnema and Akuku-Toru local government area.

Speaking at the press conference, Director-General of the PDP Campaign Council, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, listed Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Khana, Gokana, Tai, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Etche, Abua/Odual and Akuku-Toru local government areas as the areas the APC allegedly want to frustrate the elections all cost.

“These actions by the APC, INEC, the security agencies and the Federal Government clearly point to the undisputable conclusion that the plot by the APC to scuttle the general elections in Rivers State is real and must be taken seriously and prevented by all well-meaning Nigerians and the international community before it degenerates into major crisis.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army says it has uncovered a plot by some political actors within the command of its 6 Division to arm miscreants who will dress like military personnel so as to wreak havoc in the forthcoming general elections.

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the Nigerian Army and its sister agencies are making efforts to track down the sources of the weapons and the agents involved.

The statement reads in part: “Credible intelligence available to Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian Army (NA) has uncovered an unholy plan by some political actors within its Area of Responsibility (AOR) to arm and sponsor miscreants in addition to using military-like fatigue dress for deception to cause pandemonium at polling stations for their political gain.

“To this end, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division and Land Component Commander (LCC) OPDS, Maj Gen Jamil Sarham wishes to reassure the good people of Niger Delta of providing adequate security in conjunction with other security agencies before, during and after the 2019 General Elections.