Police officers in about 6 Toyota Hilux marked Intelligence Unit stormed the meeting organized by Atiku Support Organisation (ASO) in Rivers State on Sunday and arrested 35 people.
Dr. Victor Moses, the National Publicity Secretary of ASO said the incident took place at about 2 pm.
He accused Governor Nyesom Wike of ordering the arrest.
Giving details of the incident, Moses said;
“Armed police officers in about 6 Toyota Hilux marked Intelligence Unit and acting on the instruction of Rivers state Governor surrounded plot No 3 popularly called White House in Omerelu Street, by Salvation ministries Headquarters, G.R.A. Port Harcourt where State and Local Government leaders of the Atiku Support Organisation were holding meetings as part of the preparation for the People’s Democratic Party presidential rally slated to hold on 11th February 2023.
“Realizing the armed men were sent to stop the meeting, some members escaped through the fence sustaining wounds caused by barbed wire, while over 30 of our members, state and LGA leaders, most of whom are women were arrested and taken away in two white Hilux of the intelligence unit, while about 4 Hilux heavily armed with police have sealed up the meeting venue.
“The said No 3 Omerelu street, GRA is directly behind the Presidential hotel port Harcourt. None of the lines of the arrested ones is going through. We, hereby, demand Gov Nyesom Wike release our Rivers state executive members with immediate effect. Gov Nyesom Ezenwo Wike – CON must end his do-or-die politics of bitterness and stop instigating violence in Rivers state against Atiku Abubakar’s supporters.
“We call on the inspector general of police to, immediately, order the release of our members and put an end to the political rascality going on in Port Harcourt, Rivers state to avert Governor Wike’s instigated bloodbath in the state during the election.”
Moses added that Rivers people should and must be allowed to make their political choices freely.
According to Moses, Rivers’ votes belong to Atiku Abubakar and the PDP and no one can stop it.
