Disturbing reports are filtering in from Rivers State despite the deployment of special squads to the state by Inspector General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, in the wake of complaints by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Distress messages sent to News Express this morning by an APC official on election duty spoke of how the police is allegedly frustrating the party’s agents in parts of the state capital, Port Harcourt. According to the source, “A special police unit drafted to the RAC covering wards 9, 10 and 11 situate at St John’s Model Primary School Rumueme beat up and chased our people away to allow Anugbum Onuoha (cousin to the PDP guber candidate) to come in with a carton containing some electoral materials and took away original results.”

The source soon sent another message: “The DPO Rumuepirikom Police Station just aided the movement of INEC election materials at the RAC covering wards 12 and 13 in Obio/Akpor Local Govt. Area situate at Ola-Nu-Ada Model Primary School opposite School of Arts and Science. She escorted a Passat wagon into the RAC and carted away the original materials. Shooting and chasing away APC agents in the RAC.”

In a related development, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, has been accused of unleashing “a band of vicious soldiers” on residents and possible voters in Akuku Toru LGA.

“In an exact repetition of his undemocratic acts last March 28 when he commissioned and supervised the harassment, intimidation and bloodying of All Progressives Congress, APC, members and prospective voters, Dr. Danagogo, a native of Abonnema, which is the headquarters of Akuku Toru local government, has in brazen disrespect to all known principles of democracy, decorum and rights of the people, begun to brutalise voters,” the Greater Together Campaign Organisation said in a statement signed by Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, the Director of Communications.

“The Sports Minister has been moving from house-to-house since 9:00 a.m., hounding and brutalising known APC members, according to reports reaching the Greater Together Campaign Organisation Situation Room at about 3:47 p.m. (local time),” Mrs. Semenitari said, adding:

“Dr. Danagogo, who is a chieftain of PDP, has reportedly vowed to unleash additional vicious armed youths on natives and residents of Abonnema who would vote for any other party but PDP.

“We consider this act an outright infringement on the people’s freedom of association and expression. We expected Danagogo to know better as a lawyer that his act is an offence punishable under the Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We hope he will boldly face justice after this period.”

The statement alleged that during the March 28 Presidential/National Assembly elections, “Dr. Danagogo similarly had deployed militia groups who in collaboration with the same set of armed soldiers he hired in Abuja, to terrorise, kidnap and brutalise APC members in Abonnema.”

Mrs. Semenitari advised Dr. Danagogo to be civil and conduct himself mannerly to allow voters in Akuku Toru, particularly in Abonnema, to vote according to their conscience unmolested and unfettered.

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