APC, others kick against Wike’s new law on political rallies in Rivers

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Politicians in Rivers have kicked against the restrictions placed on the use of public schools in the state for political campaigns by Governor Nyesom Wike through the Executive Order 21 he signed on Friday.

Leading the criticisms was the main opposition All Progressives Congress APC, which described the restrictions as a political witch-hunt of the other political parties and affront to Section 91 of the 2022 Electoral Act and Section 40 of the Nigeria’s Constitution.

APC asserted that no political party in Nigeria can be prevented from holding rallies, processions or meetings.

The party also noted that it is the duty of the Commissioner of Police in each state to provide adequate security cover for such rallies or meetings in a consultative manner so as to prevent any conflict of time and venue amongst the political parties in a in press statement signed by Darlington Nwauju, its Acting Publicity Secretary in Rivers.

The party also pointed out that no state government can amend any section of the Electoral Act by issuing decrees or Executive Orders that are strange to the Electoral Act.

APC said the aim is to give the ruling party in the State undue advantage because it controls the resources of the state.

The party recalled that the INEC Chairman, Mamoud Yakubu recently warned state governments against using the power of incumbency to intimidate opponents.

APC asked:”Will the PDP in Rivers State pay the cautionary fee of N5 million naira and write applications two weeks ahead of the time before it wants to use any public school for rallies?”

The party stated that it suspects that there is a grand plot to deploy all sorts of underhand tactics to intimidate political opponents in the state; narrow the political space, shush every voice of reason and turn all known democratic ethos upside down.

Also, the Chairman of Labour Party, LP, in Rivers State, Deinye Pepple, said the restriction placed by Wike on use of public schools for rallies was intended to muzzle the other political parties.

“Where will political parties that have not been in government get N5 million non-refundable caution fee to pay to use public facilities from tax payers money for each campaign?”

“He is trying to deprive political parties rights to campaign. There should be level playing grounds for every political party.”

The Labour Party Chairman called on the Commissioner of Police and INEC to intervene to forestall political crisis the ban may generate in the state.

On his part, Eric Apia, a lawyer, and candidate of APC for Abua-Odua/ Ahoada-East federal Constituency in the 2023 governorship election said the action of the Governor is not only “illegal but an exhibition of fear of failure, tyranny and desperation now that he has only seven months to leave office”.

He said the Executive Order 21 will be challenged in court because it is against the constitution of federal republic of Nigeria that guarantees freedom of movement, freedom of Association and Freedom as fundamental human rights.

Apia said banning political gathering in public schools is the high point of tyranny that other Governors of Rivers State had never shown to opposition parties.

He wondered which politician will have money enough to deposit 5 million in naira non-refundable fee just to use public school for each campaign.

Governor Wike is trying to muzzle everybody. The signs are there. He dragged all the Political parties to court alleging non-compliance with the Electoral Act, except PDP, his own party.

He called on Rivers people to speak against what he described as the anti-democratic policies of the Rivers Governor.

“We need to rise against Wike and challenge this obnoxious order. He has taken all the Political parties to Court alleging the non-compliance of the Electoral Act during their primaries,” he said.