Logistic challenges hinder Rivers poll –INEC
From Tony John, Port Harcourt and Charles Adegbite
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Rivers South-East senatorial district rerun election, Senator Magnus Abe has said the incessant killings in Ogoniland, were plots by enemies to scuttle his political ambition.
Abe, who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, stressed that the people, who did not want his political success, were behind the killings.
He condemned the assassination of Dr. Vincent Eebe of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, which occurred in Yeghe community, while returning to Port Harcourt.
Speaking further, Abe said the people, who were behind the killings were known and urged the security agencies to investigate and bring the killers to book. The APC senatorial candidate stressed that the continuous killings of his supporters were obstacles that he must overcome.
He described the killings in the area as man-made obstacle and added that his political career would not be smeared by the activities of his enemies.
“The spate of killings and assassination and reckless decimation of human life in Rivers State and in particularly in my senatorial district is worrisome.
“These killings are man-made obstacles to distract me, but we will overcome them all. I appeal to my people, the Ogonis to remain calm. As you are aware, one of my close friends, who has contributed so much to the mentorship and development of other lives in this state, Dr. Vincent Eebe was murdered in a very painful circumstance.
“It is most unfortunate that these things go on unchallenged by anybody. I have asked my supporters to do anything they can to protect themselves and Eebe tried to avoid any situation that might lead to this kind of thing, but in the face of his best efforts, these killers pursued him and killed him in broad daylight.
“At this time, we expect that for any killing in the state, there should be a response because we have brought this facts before all relevant authorities, Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS) to fish out these killers from our midst.”
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that no date has been fixed for fresh legislative elections in the state because of logistic challenges.
This was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Aniedi Ikoiwak, according to TV Continental news report monitored in Lagos yesterday.
According to the INEC commissioner, several factors have continued to prevent the leadership of the electoral umpire in Abuja from rescheduling another rerun in Rivers.
He noted that elections are capital-intensive and it was only when the required logistics are sorted out that the electorate in Rivers would know when to return to the polls for the third time in barely one year.
