By Joseph Kanjo
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State and other opposition parties are at loggerhead over alleged plans to rig Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.
While opposition parties comprising the All Progressives Congress (APC), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), and Action Democratic Congress (ADC) alleged that the ruling party- Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has put machinery in place to rig Saturday’s elections, the ruling party in the state alleged that the opposition parties have concluded plans to bomb INEC offices in the state ahead of the elections.
A statement by the Director of Publicity & Communications, Rivers PDP, Ogbonna Nwuke, “The banter of half-wits who are busy quarrelling with even the air they breathe while they quarrel with their tools.”
READ ALSO: Atiku’s Aide Knocks Wike, Says Rivers Gov An Alcoholic
He added: “We have heard about the plot of some political parties, including the APC, Labour and the SDP, to bomb INEC offices at the grassroots.
“These political parties accusing INEC and everybody, including security officials involved in the electoral process of conspiring with the PDP to rig Saturday’s elections in the State are like farmers who failed to take advantage of the early rains to plant their crops.
“We urge Rivers people to ignore them. We also urge Rivers people to vote massively for Siminalayi Fubara and all the candidates of the PDP.
“We have a track record in good governance that cannot be ignored. Governor Nyesom Wike has fulfilled the social contract entered into with the people,” he said.
READ ALSO: Rivers APC Guber Candidate, Cole Deletes Congratulatory Facebook Post To Tinubu
But the opposition parties during a joint conference put together by their governorship candidates, however urged INEC not to succumb to pressure from the PDP.
Reading out their communique, the candidate of the APC, Tonye Cole demanded that government officials should not be allowed into collation centres even as he alleges a plot to rig the election.
Responding to questions, NRM governorship candidate, Sobomabo Jack Rich made a case that the security agencies must obey the INEC guideline.
In his own reaction, the Accord candidate Dumo Lulu-Briggs represented by his deputy governorship candidate, Tambari Hilda Deidam, said the opposition are united in their resolve to have free fair and credible elections.