Unknown gunmen disrupt APC registration in Rivers state

Rivers State Government yesterday condemned gunmen attack on the All Progressives Congress (APC) registration centres in some areas of the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said it was ridiculous that some persons would resort in violent attack to disrupt party registration exercise.

“Today (Thursday), they (the attackers) have gone to old Bakana and they are pulling out APC members from their homes and beating them. There was also an attack in Tombia. Fortunately, the APC members resisted and went ahead so they could do their registration.

“In Ogu-Bolo, thugs went to where people were registering and tried to steal registration materials. Chairman of Ogu-Bolo and the leadership of APC in the area had to go from unit to unit to say they would not be intimidated and denied their legitimate franchise of freedom of association,” she said.

Semenitari explained that in Okrika Ward 6, thugs yesterday mercilessly beat up the councillor representing the ward and removed registration materials. And in Okrika Ward 7, she said there was also an attack, even as some people attempted to cause fracas in Ward 4 in Okrika as well.

“In Obio/Akpo Ward 4, people were also attacked. I was told that even in parts of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, there was an attempt to intimidate APC members against registering.”

She stated that on Wednesday, the former Chairman of Rivers State Civil Service Commission and coordinator of APC registration in Bakana, Mr. Ben Orugbani, was attacked. According to her, armed men shot at him and his house was riddled with bullets and in the process broke his glasses while escaping.

Chief of Staff to Government House, Port Harcourt, Tony Okocha, said the APC targets at least 150,000 members within the next three days in Obio-Akpor Council. He stated this after monitoring the exercise in the area yesterday, adding that no amount of attacks or violence will deter party supporters from participating in the registration.