Truncated at the Booth
Members of the All Peoples Congress in Rivers State protest against
electoral fraud the after Presidential election in the state on March
29
A new report details how violence prevented several
citizens of Rivers State from carrying out their civic duty in the state
during the just-concluded elections. Adeola Akinremi writes
When Professor Chidi Odinkalu-led commission of inquiry on
politically-motivated killings in the lead up to and during the March 28
and April 11 elections in Rivers State finally gives account of its
stewardship, many Nigerians may be having yet another opportunity to
prove what they have heard.
But now, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), a United Kingdom-based
non-profit organisation that participated as observer during the
elections has released its own report, claiming violence had a serious
impact on the outcome of the elections.
“The Governorship and State Assembly poll in Rivers State was marred by
violence and disruption with over 470,000 of 2,537,520 (19% )
registered voters denied the chance to vote due to official
cancellations. Many more stayed away from the polls due to well
justified fears of violence.
“Violence had a serious impact on voters, election officials, and party
supporters. The APC alleged that 19 persons were killed on Election Day
with election observers able to confirm several of the most prominent
deaths, notably killings in Asari Toru and the assassination of APC
leader, Clever Orukwowo,” SDN claimed in its report.
On the eve of the gubernatorial election, Odinkalu had listed some
states including Rivers as places where proactive measure could
forestall violence.
“Rivers state continues to pose a rather chronic electoral violence which kind of inter-set with militia violence. The Niger delta militias which are supposed to have been decommission with the amnesty have pretty much brought their guns back and reinforced their guns and Rivers state situation is quiet difficult,” he said.
“Rivers state continues to pose a rather chronic electoral violence which kind of inter-set with militia violence. The Niger delta militias which are supposed to have been decommission with the amnesty have pretty much brought their guns back and reinforced their guns and Rivers state situation is quiet difficult,” he said.
So after the elections, when observers started releasing reports on
Rivers State, it was unsurprising to many who had followed pre-election
violence reports in the state with keen interest.
The inflation of announced votes in many local governments areas
according to SDN made it impossible to know how many voters turned out
for the polls but in 6 of the more closely contested LGAs (including
Port Harcourt) official turnout ranged between 14-25 per cent of
registered voters.
“From what we observed this seems a more plausible turnout. Some results seemed to defy any effort to acknowledge reality.
“In Buguma town (Asari Toru LGA) where security forces finally ended
with shooting and clashes mid-morning of election day, with one gang
leader beheaded, official results later recorded turnouts of 84-90 per
cent in the town (87 per cent for the whole LGA).
“In Gokana, where 5 wards were cancelled due to clashes and theft of
election materials the remainder of the local government recorded an
official turnout of 94 per cent. It was one of 3 local governments with
‘turnouts’ between 93-95 per cent, also Akuku Toru and Khana, despite
repeated reports of disruptions,” SDN claimed.
In its report SDN further said significant efforts by INEC and Police
to improve security and election processes were simply overwhelmed by
the breadth of violence and intimidation. Election officials were
assaulted and abducted in incidents across the state and they often
faced intolerable pressures from political actors.
On April 17, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi had told the
nine-man commission of inquiry headed by Odinkalu that when he visited
Obirikom in the Ogba/Egbeme/Ndoni Local Government Area, he confirmed
nine persons killed in one household.
“In the household of one late Chief Christopher Adube, nine persons
were killed by assassins. Those killed were his three children, his
younger brother, two gatemen, and two other persons while two of the
late Chief Adube’s children are still receiving treatment in an
undisclosed hospital.
“There was a day I was arguing with the Commissioner of Police in
Rivers State now posted to Enugu and I said, ‘commissioner, I am told 11
persons have been killed’, he said, ‘no, only seven persons’.
“Again, in the same Omoku, whether it is seven or 11 persons, these are
human lives. At Okrika, when APC went on campaign, where the
governorship candidate of APC was seated, he would have been hit by a
bullet, but, God saved him; he had left that place earlier. That was the
first day APC went for campaign in Okirika, and the police were
present.
“I was driving to my village on March 28 for the presidential election,
I saw a corpse at the median of the road, I called the Commissioner of
Police, ‘Mr. Karma, I have seen a corpse here, please, look for a way to
take away the corpse and find out who did this’, but, he did not.
“Whether the corpse is still there or not, I have no idea. When I got
to the village called Omuanwa on that Election Day, young boys were
shooting sporadically at innocent people and when they saw us, they ran
into the bush. Then I came down and met somebody they have shot that was
severely injured. We put him in a vehicle and rushed him to the
hospital”.
Amaechi however, insisted that those behind the killings were allowed
to unleash mayhem because of the existence of impunity in the state,
just as he called on the commission to recommend appropriate punishment
for the offenders.
He added: “The reasons why the killings happen was because of impunity
in the state. Total impunity. I believe as a governor, if you don’t
punish those who break the law, then human beings will no longer be
protected.
“People were not allowed to carry out their civic obligation and
responsibilities just because they (politicians) were desperate to take
over power. There will be threats, but your duty as a commission is to
overcome these threats.
“First, you must be under the custody of the state and we will inform
the Commissioner of Police to provide adequate security for them
(members of the commission) to discharge their duties uninterrupted”.
And now, the burden of unveiling the people behind the killings rest on
the shoulder of Odinkalu and his team. But will the killers be brought
to book?
Indeed, when the testimonies at the public hearing are heard, there
will be heavy hearts and uncontrollable tears as several families in the
state have lost dear ones.
Last week, more killings were recorded as gunmen killed four persons in
Okrika and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Two persons were shot dead penultimate Saturday in Okrika Local
Government Area, while the other two were killed on Sunday in Eleme
Local Council Area.
According to reports, a source described the killing in Okrika as a
“systematic elimination of perceived enemies,” one of the victims was
shot dead in his car and the corpse and vehicle were taken away by the
assailants.
Yet-to-be-identified armed men, it was gathered, killed the second
victim, in his house and his corpse was also carried away. His body was
later found floating in the river.
Similarly, two persons have been killed in a clash between suspected
cult members from De-well and De-Gbam in Ebubu community of Eleme Local
Government Area.
It was gathered that the incident started on Sunday night and spilled over to the early hours of yesterday.
Sources said people had fled the community for fear of being attacked.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has raised the alarm over alleged indiscriminate killing of its members.
The party stated that the two persons killed recently in Okrika were APC members.
The Greater Together Campaign Organisation (GTCO) of the APC
governorship candidate in the last election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, had,
therefore, demanded an immediate end to the killings, warning of spiral
effects if not stopped.
The SDN which based its report on what happened during the general
elections further stated that “our observers and other sources reported
clashes in Buguma town from around 8pm on Friday 10th. These clashes,
with gunfire heard in multiple locations, persisted through Friday
evening and resumed on Saturday morning.
“On Saturday morning vehicles at the ward distribution centre (Kalabari
Craft Centre) were burnt and reportedly dynamite was also thrown at the
location. Other reports claimed police vehicles had also been burnt and
the house of a state commissioner in the area had been burnt.
“Details on the number of persons killed remain difficult – other than
multiple sources confirming the beheading of one gang leader.
The APC have claimed 7 of their supporters were killed in these clashes.
We have not been able to confirm credible claims that police and youth corpers were also killed in these incidents.
“Security was eventually restored late morning on Saturday 11th with
the arrival of additional police and military units from Port Harcourt.
“However clashes broke out again on Sunday 12th with the INEC returning
officer for the area reporting that it was impossible to access Buguma,
which was to be a starting point for a postponed election in Ward 13 of
the local government.
Our observers reported that by middle of Saturday 11th Buguma was like a
“ghost town” with residents remaining locked indoors and deeply
concerned for their safety. Other contacts caught up in incidents were
still hiding in locations such as churches.
“Labour Party Candidate Tonye Princewill was interviewed middle of the
day saying that elections were not holding in the local government and
when asked on twitter why he was not doing television interviews replied
“No television crew (would be) dumb enough to come here…..”
Of Course, one of the relatives of the victims, the late Adube’s family in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni
Local government of Rivers State, Mr. Henry Adube has called on the National Hunan Rights Commission (NHRC) Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) and other human rights groups to investigate the gruesome murder of his family.
Of Course, one of the relatives of the victims, the late Adube’s family in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni
Local government of Rivers State, Mr. Henry Adube has called on the National Hunan Rights Commission (NHRC) Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) and other human rights groups to investigate the gruesome murder of his family.
In Obrikon Community in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area where
nine persons were killed, the Adube’s family had the highest number of
victims including a family friend and driver.
Those murdered in Adube’s family includes, late Hon. Christopher
Adube, former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local
Government, his two sons Lucky and John Adube , his daughter Joy, a
family friend, Mr. Iyk Ogarabe and the family driver Mr. Samuel
Chukwunonye.
The petitioner said that in spite of police investigation over the
matter he wants the National Hunan Right Commission, Civil Liberty
Organization and other human rights group to investigate the death of
his brother family.
He said he requested their assistance because he wants justice to be
done on the matter, adding that the death of his brother’s family must
stop further politically-motivated killing in the area.
He also revealed that those who killed his brother and family actually
came to warp his family, saying that the gunmen didn’t show any mercy in
their operation.
“That fateful evening they stormed the compound and force their way in
and started shooting. If you look at what happened you will see that
the armed men were desperate to end my brother’s family. After killing
my brother they went and shot joy and john including a family friend and
driver.
“Many people had been killed during the campaign in the area and the
worst thing is that nobody has been arrested or prosecuted. I am begging
Nigerians, National Human Rights Commission, Civil Liberty Organization
and other human rights groups to investigate this gruesome murder.”
Now, justice may be in sight, only if the report of Odinkalu commission is implemented.
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