Members of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Ikpide-Irri riverine community, Isoko South local government area of Delta state said they have uncovered plans by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the community to use what they called “fake uniform soldiers and other security apparatus” to intimidate and harass members during the February and March 2019 elections.
The APC members who said the community is in serious panic at the moment, gave the names of some of the PDP chieftains behind the alleged plan to include, one Immanuel Emoefe, originally known as “Emmanuel Omojefe”, chairman, PORTPLUS Limited, said to be the sponsor of the plan, Mike Omojefe, his elder brother and President-General of the community and former PDP ward chairman, one Pius Otolo, retired WO 2, and John Kpokpogri, a retired Navy Admiral, who was dismissed from the Navy over corrupt related cases and his dismissal was later converted to retirement.
According to one of the executive members of the APC in the community, who simply identified himself as Sunny, the arrangement of the fake uniform soldiers was been spearheaded by PORTPLUS Limited chairman, who is based in Lagos and always flood the community during elections with all manner of security men just to intimidate and harass the opposition party and rig elections in favour of his party.
“The information at our hands right now is that, Chief Okpugo, the chairman of PORTPLUS Limited whose firm is handling the substandard road in the community which his elder brother said it was a Kola-nut contract given to his younger brother by governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has concluded all the plans to storm the community with fake army, navy, police and other security personnel mixed with few genuine ones.
“He is so good at using security to intimidate the opposition as well as vote buying during elections. After voting, his loyalists will direct electorates to Chief Otolo’s house, one of his loyalists to collect N1,000 and a wrapper as the case may be. The women collect wrapper and N1,000 while the men and youths are given N1,000 only and at the end this Lagos based contractor will push forward names of his immediate brothers for appointments while every other person fold their hands and watch.
“We were also informed by some of his loyalists in the community that fake army, navy and police uniforms have already been brought to the community by the Lagos based contractor sponsoring the whole thing. He boasted sometimes back that he does not want any opposition party members in the community and anyone that will be work against his interest. Few years back he sponsored the beating to a coma of a former councillor from the community, Ejiro Etoroma, who he suspected to be working against his interest during the 2011 elections.
“Again, we strongly condemned the threat of banishment issued against APC members by these PDP cabals in Ikpide-Irri. The threat of banishment is a highly mischievous and irresponsible act by the supposed leaders of the PDP in the community who ought to understand the place of right of franchise in a democratic settings. Their sponsor, Chief Okpugo is a sour loser who is fighting dirty to save his head and with not be intimidated and cowed by frustrated leaders that have lost their bearing.
“Every eligible voter has a right to identify with a political party of choice in a democracy and also cast his or her vote. These so-called leaders need to be schooled on what democracy entails. I want to state categorically that all APC members and supporters in Ikpide-Irri will not be intimidated by anybody, no matter how highly placed he is. We are aware that fear has gripped PDP over losing the forthcoming elections. We shall ensure that they fail woefully in Ikpide-Irri. Threat will not stop us; intimidation will not limit us.” Sunny said.
Contacted for comments on the issue, the state party chairman, Mr. Jones Erue, simply said all the issues concerning the Ikpide-Irri community was been handled and assured members of the party in the community not to be afraid, adding that “The APC is prepared as prepared itself in the forthcoming elections.”
Speaking with our political correspondent, a state executive member of the APC who preferred not to be mentioned as he was not authorised to speak on any issue concerning the election, confirmed to our correspondent that “Yes the party executive in the state is already aware of such plans. We got the report from our members there and we investigated and found out that the information is true.
“We condemned in its entirety the alleged threat of banishment of our members and planned flooding of the community with fake uniform men by the PDP leaders. We are also aware that dangerous weapons have been stocked and the fake uniforms will be used by fake security persons and some thugs to cause fear, violence, kill and maim APC members. But the criminal plan of the PDP will be resisted by the people of Ikpide-Irri, who have been victims of maladministration and political oppression of those that made the threats of banishment.
“We are aware that this Lagos based contractor has over 20 security personnel to himself whenever he is coming to the community and we are happy that the acting Inspector General of Police has warned against the use of police orderly by politicians. The state leadership of the party is already on top of the situation. Some of these PDP chieftains orchestrating this evil plans are well known to us especially the Lagos based contractor. We know his antecedents.
“Do you know Some of the PDP chieftains in that community were fingered in the mysterious circumstances that led to the missing vessel, MT African Pride some years back in Nigeria.? Not too long ago we gathered from sources that the so called Lagos based contractor who is claiming party leader and alpha and omega in that community allegedly had a serious issue with the family of the late General Andrew Azazi, as he wanted to cheat the late Army general in a deal they both had before his demise, but Azazi’s sons and wife took up the issue with him. So we know all their antecedents and we are monitoring them.” the APC official stated.
Cross section of the community spoken to condemned any act that will result to blood bath in the community and appealed to the federal government, state commissioner of police to as a matter of importance make sure there are heavy presence of security personnel in the community during the elections.
All efforts to reach out to Emmanuel Omojefe, one of the PDP chieftains in the community on the allegations, proved abortive as his mobile line was not reachable as at the time of filing this report, however, an indigene of the community and one of his loyalists based in Lagos, who don’t want to be mentioned told our correspondent in Lagos that all the allegations were false, saying “Ikpide-Irri is a peaceful community and the APC has not done anything for us. Though Oga want his party, the PDP to dominate the community but the allegations are nothing but false and baseless.”
Anchored by Oluwa Richard, HardReporters Political Editor, Lagos.
