Rivers ACN Raises Alarm Over Violent Attacks
Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Rivers State, has again raised alarm over the violent political attacks on its campaign trains at various levels across Rivers State by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The party claimed that another incident occurred on Wednesday, 23 March 2011 at Tai Local Government Area, when suspected PDP thugs led by one of the party’s House of Representatives candidates, attacked Dr Abiye Sekibo’s campaign train.
The thugs disrupted ACN rally in Tai, destroying canopies, chairs, tables and other valuables put in place for the campaign.
They also inflicted injuries on several members of the campaign train and party supporters who turned up to grace the occasion, stripping naked about 10 female supporters after beating them.
In a statement signed by Jerry Needam, Director of Publicity to the Abiye Sekibo Campaign Organisation (ASCO), ACN views this development with seriousness and accuses Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s government as masterminds.
The party further alleged that ACN campaign train was also attacked in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Monday, March 21, 2011 by PDP thugs.
According to ACN, “the thugs also disrupted ACN rally for the day and prevented the party from using the Rumueme Playground, a venue it received approval for one full week before the rally,” adding the party gladly accepted the magnanimity of Chief Omunakwe Nsirim, Apiti of Rumueme, who volunteered his palace for the rally free of charge.
“ASCO draws the attention of the security agencies in the state to these political attacks calculated and ordered by the Amaechi-led government of the state. We also draw the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to these targeted acts of violence against the ACN in the state.
“ACN re-affirms its commitment to peaceful electioneering and campaigns to all designated units and constituencies across the state, and declare in very clear terms that our strong party cannot be intimidated as we are fired up to contest every vote in the state and, eventually defeat all opponents at the polls, even as we advise the PDP to play the game according to the rules.”
The party remarked also that several weeks after the closure of the Abiye Sekibo Campaign headquarters, the property is still under lock and key.
—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
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