5th April, 2023
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the attack on some of its party leaders and members in Port Harcourt by thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This is contained in a statement issued by Barr. Felix Morka, APC’s National Publicity Secretary on Wednesday.
Some miscreants had on Monday, attacked the Rivers APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, his deputy Dr Innocent Barikor, the state party chairman Emeka Beke and three other party officials.
They were at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office to obtain Certified True Copies (CTC) of vital documents for the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly elections when they were attacked.
Morka, who described the attack as barbaric, said the situation demanded an immediate and thorough investigation.
“Without warning, thugs and supporters of the PDP descended on our Party officials, inflicting severe and life-threatening injuries on them, and damaging personal and party properties.
“This premeditated attack by PDP thugs and operatives on our officials and members in Port Harcourt is yet another in what has now become an orgy of violence carried out with mind-boggling audacity, and with absolutely no serious investigation by the police or repercussions for the instigators and perpetrators of this serial violence.
“Ostensibly, this latest attack was aimed at frustrating the effort of our Governorship Candidate to obtain vital documents to exercise his constitutional right to challenge the declared result of the Governorship election in the state.
“For the PDP that claims to have won the election to resort to this level of violence to block a legitimate legal challenge tells a different story of a party sitting precariously on needles and pins in the face of prospects of a legal challenge by our Governorship Candidate.
The APC scribe commended the swift response of security agencies, especially the Police and the Nigerian Army in restoring peace and order.
He also urged the Inspector General of Police to “order an urgent and thorough investigation into this and previous incidents of violent attacks on leaders and members of our Party in Rivers State, and to bring the sponsors and perpetrators to justice.”