EXPLOSION AND GUN FIRE AT APC RALLY IN PATEINCE JONATHANS TOWN OKRIKA.

Explosion, gunfire rock opposition rally in Okrika, Rivers state today.
It would be recalled that an earlier attempt to hold APC governorship rally in Okrika was thwarted by armed youths who bombed all the equipment, podium and have destroyed all the canopies set up at the National School Field, Okrika venue of the campaign rally for Dakuku Peterside rally.
APC alleged that Patience Jonathan, who hails from Okrika had vowed that the party would not be allowed to hold any rally in the area.

In a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to President Goodluck Jonathan, APC asked him to call his wife to order and to tell her to allow them exercise their right to freedom of association and allow APC hold its rallies in Okrika and Ogu/Bolo local Government areas.
According to Okrika APC: “On Saturday January 24, some PDP members attacked the venue of the proposed APC governorship rally. Properties were destroyed cars were burnt and attempts were made to prevent the rally from holding but APC refused to be cowed by their violent actions.
“It is pertinent to note at this point that the security personnel who were sent to secure the venue were unceremoniously pulled out and asked us to stand down with the ubiquitous orders from above. Minutes after the security operatives left, another set of PDP boys swarmed on the venue attacking persons and their homes and burning cars”.
Political tension has raged in Rivers since outgoing governor Rotimi Amaechi defected to the APC from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2013.
The war of words has been particularly fierce between Amaechi’s camp and supporters of the first lady.
Critics have alleged that she sees Rivers as her personal political domain and was committed to removing the governor at any cost.
Peterside, who is Amaechi’s hand-picked successor, had tried twice previously to hold a rally in Okrika but was forced to cancel on security grounds.
As supporters were gathering for Tuesday’s rally at the National Secondary School, a small explosive device went off, forcing crowds to scatter but causing no casualties, a witness said.