Explosion rocks secretariat of APC faction in Rivers

Firefighters battling the fire at APC secretariat in Rivers

Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun

The secretariat of a faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC led by the Chief Tony Okocha in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State was attacked early Saturday morning by suspected arsonists.

The attackers had reportedly detonated explosives at the secretariat, as shown in a short video clip making the rounds on social media platforms.

The explosives damaged the main gate and the security post of the APC secretariat and some parts of the building.

Okocha in a short message, accused supporters of the Rivers state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of being behind the attack on the secretariat.

He added that the intervention by the security operatives prevented the secretariat from being totally burnt down.

He said: “At the wee hours of Saturday, pro-Fubara civilian soldiers detonated dynamites at our office. The second attempt to set it ablaze was foiled as the security at the gate quickly put out the fire.”

The Okocha faction of APC had announced its withdrawal from today’s Rivers local government election citing legal reasons.

Meanwhile, the Rivers Political Elders and Leaders Forum has urged residents of the state to exercise their civil rights without fears during the Saturday’s local government council election.

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Chief Celestine Omehia, a former Governor of the state, made the call when the group visited Gov. Siminalayi Fubara in Port Harcourt.

Omehia said that the essence of the visit was to encourage the governor to remain steadfast towards ensuring a successful council poll.

Omehia said that election was an exercise of the fundamental right of people saying, ”every resident of the state has the right to vote and should express such right”

He said that it was the responsibility of the state election body to organise the poll for people to choose their leaders at the grassroots.

“Those who do not want the election to hold are not interested in the welfare of Rivers people.

“As a group, we are interested in strengthening democratic principles, we want the state to grow in unity,” he said.

Omehia said that past leaders of the state would be delighted to see that the state enjoyed peace, unity and development.