ACN, PDP At War Over Kidnapped Lawmaker

The kidnap of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP House of Representatives member, Emmanuel Deeyah, continues to take twists and turns as Action Congress of Nigeria, the state PDP has accused ACN in Rivers State of masterminding the abduction of the lawmaker.

According to a statement endorsed by the Godspower Ake, the state Chairman of PDP, the party alleged that “In furtherance of their attempt to destabilize Rivers State and create a false impression that the State is unsafe, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in Rivers State orchestrated and masterminded the kidnap of PDP House of Representatives member, Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah at his hometown, Gwara, Khana Local Government Area.

“As part of the plot, the ACN had also hoped to cash in on the loot from the kidnap to raise money for their election; this is why the kidnappers of Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah demanded well over N60 million ransom.

“Unfortunately for them, with the help of Ogoni Youths, their ploy failed and Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah was rescued from the hands of these obnoxious and evil people who parade themselves as politicians today.”

ACN, through its chairman, Uche Okwukwu, had accused the Governor Amaechi, Nyesom Wike, the Chief of Staff and the director of Amaechi Campaign Organisation, Magnus Abe former SSG, Dakuku Peterside and other PDP candidates of acts inimical to the conduct of free and fair elections.

For instance, ACN alleged that “the candidate of the Chairman of Gokana, Khana, Eleme, Oyigbo, Opobo, Emohua, Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt, the Chief of Staff to the Governor Nyesom Wike, were at the collation centres in wards 1,2,14,9 and 12 in Obio/Akpor Local Government moving openly with armed Policemen.”

ACN also alleged that “As regards the aborted elections, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Rivers State is appalled by the movement within and around collation centres, voting units and wards by the National Assembly candidates of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and council chairman on Saturday April, 2, 2011.”

The accusations and counter-accusations by both PDP and ACN in the state are attempts to capture space in the minds of the electorate to sway their votes.

—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt