APC chieftains and supporters led by the 2015 governorship running mate, ASITA ASITA, marched from the party secretariat down to the State Police Command Headquarters on Moscow Road.
Our correspondent LEVI ISU reports that the demonstration by the APC was called to show solidarity with the Nigeria Police Force over the murder of DSP ALKALI MOHAMMED and the disappearance of another policeman in ONELGA.
The Rivers APC leaders demanded a full scale investigation into the attack on the police officer and other atrocities allegedly committed by the PDP and their agents.
The APC protesters also kicked against the demand by Governor NYESOM WIKE and his PDP members for the withdrawal of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, STEVEN HASSO and the SARS Commander, AKIN FAKOREDE.
The APC leaders claimed that Governor WIKE and the PDP are opposed to the two senior police officers because they allegedly refused to accept bribe from the Governor.
After addressing the rally, the APC leaders handed their protest letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, CYRIL OKORO, who promised to convey their complaints to the Inspector General of Police.
From the State Police Command Headquarters; the APC protesters marched to the Rivers State Secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission to demand the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, ANIEDI IKOIWAK.
According to the Rivers APC; IKOIWAK compromised the election in Rivers East Senatorial District where a winner was announced without complete collation of results from across the senatorial district.
The APC demonstration comes a day after Governor NYESOM WIKE led members of his cabinet and PDP supporters on a protest to the State Police Command to demand the withdrawal of two senior police officers, ACP STEPHEN HASSO and the Commander Special Anti-Robbery Squad, AKIN FAKOREDE.
Governor WIKE, who was joined in the protest by members of the State Executive Council; members of the State House of Assembly and other PDP chieftains, described the two senior police officers as threats to the peace and security of the people of Rivers State.
Meanwhile; before calling for today’s demonstration; the State Chairman of APC, Chief DAVIES IBIYAMU-IKANYA, addressed a news conference during which he took a swipe at Governor WIKE for allegedly compromising the rerun elections last weekend.
IKANYA cited an audio that has been trending online, purporting to have captured a conversation between Governor WIKE and some individuals in a plot to rig the rerun elections, with a threat to electoral officials who failed to comply with his bidding to manipulate the results.
Based on that audio; the State Chairman of APC alleged that Governor WIKE procured the seats won by PDP candidates in the last elections.
Chief IKANYA said Governor WIKE has never been prepared for a free and fair election since 2015, adding that his strategy has always been violence.
The National leadership of APC has also lent its voice the controversy being generated around the leaked audio recording of the purported conversation between Governor WIKE and some electoral officials.
APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam BOLAJI ABDULLAHI disclosed in a statement that has confirmed the fear raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the lead-up to the legislative re-run elections December 10.
The party spokesman said going by the revelations from the leaked audio recordings, Governor WIKE may have engaged in unwholesome conducts that might have compromised the integrity of the electoral process and undermined his office as the Chief Security Officer of Rivers State.
