Rivers Re-Run Blues: State Commissioner, APC Chieftain Kidnapped; Election Suspended In 4 Councils

As expected, the re-run elections in Rivers State today were bugged down by weird happenings, including the kidnapping of the state commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Ibibia Walter amd a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Elyon Ntiro Elijah.
The two politicians were said to have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen today as the State and National Assembly polls get underway in the restive state.
A news flash on @pdpnigeria, the official Twitter handle of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said: “Chief Ibibia Walter, Rivers State Commissioner for Water Resources has just been abducted by unknown gunmen.”
Another report also confirmed that the APC’s Ntiro Elijah had earlier been kidnapped.
“Elijah, who was a former leader of Andoni Local Government legislative Assembly, was said to have been kidnapped at Asarama waterside in Andoni Local Government Area of the state late last night,” the report said.
This was even as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the suspension of the re-run elections in Bonny, Andoni, Gokana, and Khana local government areas of the state.
INEC’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Nick Dazang, confirmed that the elections were suspended in the areas because of violence.
Dazang said there was also high voters’ apathy in the areas because of the allegations of fake result sheets.
Bonny, Andoni, and Khana were among the local government areas where the Rivers state government and the Peoples Democratic Party alleged fake result sheets were in circulation.
There were reports of pockets of violence and ballots snatching in the elections, although the police said the poll was largely peaceful.
For instance, some thugs were said to have snatched election materials around 2.30pm at three units in WIiyaakara Ward, Khana Local Government Area.
At Bori, also in Khana, INEC officials were reportedly scared of stepping out of their offices to conduct the election because of threats from persons wearing fake military uniform.
A 14-seater bus was burnt down in Alode, Eleme Local Government Area, and there were also reports of a shoot-out in Rumuekini, Obio Akpor Local Government Area.
The Army in the state paraded some fake soldiers arrested at Khana.
However, counting of votes has begun in some polling units across the state.
Meanwhile, the state government has accused the Nigerian military of colluding with the APC in the state to hijack election materials.
The government in a statement said: “we noted with shock and disgust the role played by the military in the reported diversion of all voting materials meant for the Isaka community, in Okrika Local Government Area.
“This is sickening betrayal of democracy by the military, and will never be allowed to stand.”
The APC in the state dismissed the statement by the Rivers government as mere falsehood. [myad]