Wike, army trade words as reps probe Rivers electoral violence

The house of representatives has launched a probe into the electoral violence which claimed some lives in Rivers state.

An unconfirmed number of persons including Ferry Gberegbe, a lecturer, were killed during the violence in Obiakpo local government of Rivers state during the election.

The house of representatives had mandated its joint committee on army, police, human right and justice to investigate the matter.

During the committee’s visit to Rivers on Monday, Rimamnde Kwewum, its co-chairman, said the lawmakers were on a fact-finding mission on what transpired during the polls.

While addressing the committee earlier, Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, accused the security agencies of bias in the elections.

He alleged that the army had attempted to rig the election against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to him, “the army invaded the office of the electoral commission just to rig election. People were killed simply because they said they will not allow army to carry ballot papers.”

But responding on behalf of the Nigerian army, Felix Omoigue, a brigadier general, denied any wrongdoing on the part of the security agency.

He said soldiers acted only on professional grounds, adding that “the army has never been partisan in dealing with election matters.”

Omoigue also blamed politicians in Rivers for “creating unnecessary tensions” in the build up to the election, adding that the army played a huge role in calming tension in the state.