Nigeria: Police react with ban of rallies in Rivers State

APC says it is a futile Exercise, illegality, abuse of inalienable of Rivers People

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Rivers Police Command’s directive banning any form of rallies or political gatherings in Rivers State as an act of illegality as well as an abuse of the inalienable right of the people of Rivers State to freely associate as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, alleging that the directive is a “direct declaration of war on the long-suffering people of Rivers State”.

The party in a statement by Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Senior Special Aide on Media and Publicity to Rivers State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, on Monday 3rd February, 2014 said, “We are aware that this satanic directive is aimed at disrupting our membership drive and registration of our teeming loyalists scheduled to start this Wednesday, the 5th of February, 2014. This draconian and unwarranted directive at this period is clearly targeted at frustrating us after we have already trained our Registration Officers and mobilised materials in this regard to all the awards in Rivers State. This latest act of impunity by the Rivers State Police Command under the watch of CP Mbu Joseph Mbu designed to sabotage our membership drive will however fail as it lacks the power to stop this nationwide exercise from being carried out in Rivers State”.

Continuing, the party said, “For the avoidance of doubt, Rivers State is still an integral part of Nigeria and subject to Nigerian laws, including the one that guarantees the people’s right to freedom of association”, adding that the party has already directed its lawyers to challenge the ban order in the court and further directed its Registration Officers to commence the exercise as scheduled by the 5th March, 2014.

APC declared, “If the intention of the Rivers State Command is to use this as a ploy to disrupt our planned registration then it is an exercise in futility as we will be left with no alternative than to challenge it formally in the law court. But if not we will do everything to support such a ban”.

The party thanked the Rivers State people for their wise decision to massively join the All Progressives Congress (APC) so as to ensure that, they will “collectively bury the doomed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that lacks vision and the capacity to move Nigeria forward”.

Meanwhile Ahoada Town, Headquarters of Ahoada Local Government Area went agog last Saturday when Barrister Charles Ihua-Maduenyi declared for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In an event that was witnessed by an enthusiastic mammoth crowd, over 300 supporters and associates of Bar. Maduenyi declared for APC alongside their leader.

In his declaration speech, Barr. Maduenyi expressed his satisfaction with the organization and ideology of the APC.

“I feel satisfied with the planning, operation and most importantly the ideology of APC. I will bring my wealth of experience in grassroots politics to ensure that the people of the LGA vote massively for the APC in the coming elections”

In his speech, the Rivers State Interim Publicity Secretary of APC, Chief Andy Nweye, congratulated Barr. Maduenyi for his decision to pitch tent with the APC, describing him as not only a big fish, but a gargantuan hippopotamus in the politics of Rivers State.

According to Chief Nweye, “By your declaration, Ahoada East is now completely APC.”

Dignitaries at the event include the Deputy Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Nname Ewoh; Hon. Ibiso Nwuche of the RSHA and the Council Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government, Chief Cassidy Ikebidi. Others are Hon. Friday Echikwa and Eric Apia amongst others who graced the occasion

ENDS

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