How Patience Jonathan Allegedly ‘Helped’ With Rivers Election Rigging (Report)

Fresh allegations have emerged against Patience Jonathan, Nigeria’s First Lady, who allegedly influenced the outcome of April 11 governorship election in Rivers state.

The Nation reports, however, with reference to its Port Harcourt source that President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife took undue advantage of her husband’s position to rig the election.

On April 11 President Jonathan voted in his home town Otuoke, Bayelsa state, and Mrs Jonathan relocated to Okrika, Rivers state, in the evening of April 10 purportedly to ensure victory for her political godson and former education minister.

Based on the information provided by the source, GEJ was against the proposals to manipulate the process in favour of wife.

Still, Dame Patience was said to be unhappy with her husband having conceded defeat to Muhamadu Buhari, after March 28 presidential election, and decided to “help” Wike in Rivers.

“Mama Peace”summoned the leadership of the state police and obtained commitment from the them to support her in the rigging process, the source who pleaded for anonymity narrated.

When the assistant inspector general of police, Zone 6, Calabar, Tunde Ogunsakin, responsible for Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ebonyi states, arrested a divisional police officer with electoral materials in Rivers, the First Lady immediately intervened by calling his husband.

Following which President Jonathan quickly got across to IGP Suleiman Abba and directed him to order Ogunsakin out of Rivers state. The AIG returned to his Calabar base at about 5am on April 11.

Controversy continues surrounding the polls outcome in the state.

Amid calls for Rivers election cancellation by the APC, the European Union observers insisted that the just concluded polls need to be investigated.

Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, APC chairman in Rivers, speaking yesterday through his aide described the governorship and House of Assembly elections and the announcement of fake results as tragedy.

“What took place was a macabre dance of intimidation and violence, perpetrated against the peace-loving APC members, after which results were written in favour of Chief Nyesom Wike of the PDP. It is evident that the announcement of winners for the polls is a travesty of justice and a rape of democracy.

“We insist that the purported governorship and House of Assembly elections be cancelled in their totality and a new date set for proper polls, as prescribed by law. We hope that INEC will enforce the rights of Rivers people to free, fair and credible elections, by heeding the clarion call.”

He accused the PDP of arranging violence and narrated in detail what had been done to ensure Wike’s victory:

“Rivers APC declares unequivocally that the elections were fraught with violence, unbridled manipulation and intimidation, while no voting took place in most parts of Rivers State.

“At Tai Local Government Area, Lekia Nkirine was shot dead, while Gbaraka Nna was shot on the neck. A PDP chieftain in the area, bought the guns, while another PDP chieftain fired the shot.

“In Buguma, Asari-Toru local government area, seven APC members were killed, with three killed and thrown into the rivers and one beheaded. Two buses and INEC office were burnt, while the house of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Joeba West, was bombed. These exclude tens of buildings and cars that were destroyed.

“Three persons were killed at Etche local government area. One was killed in Ikwerre local government area. Two APC members were murdered at Egbeda Ward I of Emouha local government area, while Hon. Chidi Lloyd, the leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, was beaten to a pulp, while attempting to prevent the rigging of the elections in his constituency.

“In Obga/Egbema/Ndoni local government area, there were at least five reported deaths, namely: Obinna Ndubuoke, Jeophat Kingdom, Ndidi Ebere, Sydney Wokocha and Hon. Clever Orukwowu (APC Youth Leader).”

Thus, Ikanya urged Attahiru Jega, to cancel and reschedule the guber election.

In a separate development Jega said yesterday that the INEC had no power to cancel Rivers and Akwa Ibom states adding that “it is only the election petition tribunals that can order that or even cancelled the elections. We would advice anyone who is aggrieved to go to the court.”