In a shocking incident early Saturday morning, explosives were used to attack the Tony Okocha-led secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The explosion severely damaged the building, shattering the gates and doors, just as local government elections were set to take place in the area.
Tony Okocha, chairman of the APC faction in Rivers State, recounted the harrowing details of the attack. “At about 3:20 AM, armed young men arrived and detonated the first explosive. When it failed to cause significant damage, they returned to set the structure ablaze,” he stated, pointing out the destruction of the security house. “Our members managed to extinguish the flames in some areas, but the intent was clear.”
Okocha characterized the attack as politically motivated, directly implicating Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who he claimed had previously declared war on the APC regarding the elections. “This secretariat is not a voting unit. The act was deliberate, aimed at humiliating and undermining us,” Okocha asserted.
As of now, the police have not issued any official comment on the explosion. Despite this incident, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has reaffirmed that the local government elections will proceed as scheduled.
The RSIEC emphasized their legal mandate to conduct these elections, citing a court ruling that supports their authority, despite the police’s refusal to provide security for the event.
The backdrop of this violence highlights the tense political climate in Rivers State, raising concerns about the safety and integrity of the electoral process as accreditation and voting continue across various polling centers in Port Harcourt City.
