PDP worried over withdrawal of Wike’s security details

Despite the indifference by the Rivers state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, over the withdrawal of some of his security details by the state Police Command, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed concern over the development.

Last Friday, Governor Nyesom Wike announced, during the flagging off of the reconstruction of Igbo-Etche road, near Port Harcourt the state capital, that most of his police security details have been withdrawn by the state Commissioner of Police and said that he would not lose sleep over it.

But reacting to the withdrawal, the Chairman of the state PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, on Sunday condemned the action of the State Police Command and said the development was a source of concern to Rivers people and that it clearly showed the desperation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to rig the December 10 re-run election in the state.

The Chairman said in a statement signed by his Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jerry Needam, that the party became more worried by the alleged confession made by the APC candidate in the 2015 governorship election, and now the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMSA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside that he (Peterside) had had discussions with security chiefs and officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the re-run polls.

Chief Obuah said that the alleged confession which he claimed was openly made by Dr. Dakuku Peterside in a radio programme in Port Harcourt on Saturday, confirmed the fears of Rivers people that powers from Abuja were desperate to foist the APC on them at all costs.

“The unguarded remarks of Mr. Dakuku Adol Peterside who boasted that he had already concluded discussions with security chiefs and officers of INEC on the December 10 Re-run Election coming few hours after the withdrawal of majority of policemen attached to Governor Wike may not be a coincidence,” the PDP Chairman stated, adding that the party would not allow “the revelation by Mr. Dakuku Peterside to be swept under the carpet.”

Calling on security agencies to investigate the alleged confession, “as its consequences are capable of threatening the December 10 poll, the party, therefore, urged security agencies to be apolitical during the December 10, 2016 re-run election, in order to promote peace and restore the confidence of the people in their ability to supervise elections in the state.

However, th Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, denied the allegation, describing it as baseless. The police image maker said the Rivers state police command had never contemplated withdrawing the security details of the governor.