Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has told the Special Joint Investigation Panel on Rivers Rerun election set up by the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, that it was established with a predetermined goal, with the aim of assisting the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the election tribunal.
Wike also announced that the state government has gone to court to challenge the setting up of the panel, with the Chairman of the panel, Damian Okoro, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, as one of the defendants, hence the people of the state will not participate in the activities of the panel.
The governor said the panel is biased, with an agenda targeted against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its members, while shielding policemen used by the APC to commit electoral fraud.
Wike spoke yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when the Nigerian Police Special Joint Investigation Panel on Rivers Rerun paid him a courtesy visit.
He expressed regret that the Nigerian Police was being used to protect the interest of a particular politician in the state.
His words: “I must tell you with all honesty that my people and I will not participate in the sitting of this panel. We have challenged the setting up of this panel in court.
“Let there be a judicial pronouncement on this matter. It will enrich our jurisprudence. This panel has not shown us that it will not be biased.”
He added: “All these activities are orchestrated so that APC will use the materials therefrom at the tribunal.
“Even you as the chairman of the panel cannot say from your conscience that you are not biased.”
The governor regretted that the Police High Command attempted to deny video evidence of the invasion of Rivers East senatorial district Collation by Akin Fakorede and his SARS personnel.
He also wondered why the police has refused to make public how DSP Alkali was killed, simply because the person indicted was a commissioner under the Minister of Transportation.
He said: “The same Akin Fakorede who was caught on video after he invaded the Rivers East senatorial is the one who is arranging witnesses for the panel set up by the IG.
“Nobody is investigating the case of Rivers APC printing fake result sheets which the police is trying to sweep under the carpet.”
He wondered why the IG set up a panel when he had already made conclusions as enunciated in his letter to the Rivers State Governor.
He said since the IG knew those who perpetrated the crime during the rerun legislative elections, why did he go ahead to set up a panel.
“We believe that the panel has already taken a decision. We are convinced that the essence of the panel is to witch-hunt our people and we have evidence to show. We cannot because of one man’s interest, destroy the state.
“Already, you have dismissed policemen attached to me without even hearing from me. This is the same panel that claims it is investigating the conduct of all policemen during the rerun legislative elections,” he concluded.
Earlier, Chairman of the Nigerian Police Special Joint Investigation Panel on Rivers Rerun, Mr. Damian Okoro, said the panel was in the state to interface with the governor on what transpired before, during and after the rerun elections.
He added that the panel would also examine the role of security personnel during the rerun legislative elections.
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