There seems to be rise in anxiety in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general election in the state, with pockets of political violence being recorded in parts of the state, including destruction of campaign billboards and attack on members of opposition political parties.
On Thursday morning, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Rainbow Coalition in the state, raised the alarm on the alleged attacked on their members on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at Eleme Junction, by suspected members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), near Rumukurushi community in Obio/Akpor local government area of the state.
APC/ Rainbow Coalition spokesman in the state, Hon. Chibike Ikenga, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, said the members and supporters were attacked while returning from the campaign rally of President Bola Tinubu at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwurita-Ali in Ikwerre LGA of the state.
The statement alleged that the attack disrupted the supporters’ movement and left some of them injured.
The party warned the ADC against further attacks and called on security agencies to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.
But, in his reaction, spokesman of ADC in the state, Chizzy Enyi, denied the involvement of members of the leading opposition political party in the alleged attack on members of APC and Rainbow Coalition.
Enyi said: “Our members and supporters were not even close to venue of the rally. So, of what essence was it to wait for them at Eleme? Who have they arrested and the person’s made confessional statements?
“So, they should go and look for those who attacked them, if really they were attacked. If they say political parties were attacked; who were those attacked. Is it the APC or the Rainbow Coalition that is made up of one political party? We were not aware of any attack.”
However, speaking with LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt on Thursday, convener of Rivers Peace Initiative (RPI), Obinna Ebogidi, said there is the need for security agencies to arrest and prosecute election offenders on order to pass strong message to others.
“It is unfortunate that we are having incidences like this playing out in the buildup to the election. My appeal to all political parties to abide by their promise. We need a peaceful environment that will encourage Rivers electorates to be able to participate in not just the election but in activities within the pre-election environment.
“So, I will explore that the security agencies should rise up to the occasion, so thorough investigation, charge and prosecute those who are responsible in order to deter others. One of the reasons we Keep having these incidents reoccur is because there are no consequences. We haven’t had electoral offenders identified and prosecuted. It will scare other people.
“The security agencies need to make a commitment towards electoral violence expensive by prosecuting and charging offenders to court. The need to arrest this situation before it escalates,” Ebogidi said.
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