The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says revelations by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers South-East Senatorial Candidate, Mr Magnus Abe, that he has reached out to Security Chiefs, held several meetings with them, and also influenced the transfer of some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff, are parts of plots by the desperate Abe and APC to instigate the militarisation of the state, hijack ballot papers and rig the forth coming re-run national and State Assemblies elections in the state.

The PDP in a statement signed by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, also reveals that the series of coordinated, incisive, provocative, false and completely misleading press statements in circulation, emanating from the APC and its defeated candidate, Mr Dakuku Peterside, painting Rivers State as “A killing field, hunting and killing APC members,’’ are all targeted at creating State of Emergency where soldiers will be drafted in to supervise and ensure the success of their well planned, scripted and coordinated hijack of ballot papers, result sheets and rigging of the re-run elections.

The Party notes that the military invasion and occupation of Ogoni, and the moving around with lorry loads of soldiers by Mr. Magnus Abe are all pointers to their planned use of the military during the re-run elections.

The party recalls that over the weekend in Luubara, Khana Local Government Area, Magnus Abe, Rivers South-East senatorial candidate, at an APC rally, narrated how the Army will be there for members of the APC. He also explained that he has held several meetings with some security chiefs in Abuja, boasting of influencing the transfer of some INEC staff from Rivers State.

The PDP also reveals a secret meeting Mr Dakuku Peterside also held with some security chiefs ahead of the re-run elections, which necessitated the recent false alarm raised by him.

The PDP condemns the APC for claiming all dead persons in Rivers State as its members killed by the PDP, regretting that in obvious cases of clash by two cult groups, casualties of motor accidents and natural deaths, the APC continues to lay claim to them as its members.

The Party calls on the security agencies to properly investigate all claims by the APC on the killing of its members to ascertain the true source of their death.

The PDP also urges the general public to discountenance the misleading claims and falsehood peddled through the social and traditional media by the APC on political issues and development in the State and the nation.

It wonders why the APC specialises in disseminating incisive statements and using blackmail and deceit as its preferred method in trying to persuade the masses.

We warn the APC leaders to jettison their plot to use the military to subvert and rig the forth coming elections and to change these known ill-conceived tactics of telling lies making frivolous claims and excessive propaganda, and adopt civilised means of mobilising the electorate, if it must be seen as a responsible party.

The PDP also urges the military authorities to beware of desperate politicians, and to resist being used as tools to manipulate the re-run elections.

•Photo shows Gov. Wike.

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