Elections: Governor Wike Vows To Drag Nigerian Army’s GOC 6 Division To The International Criminal Court

Elections: Governor Wike Vows To Drag Nigerian Army’s GOC 6 Division To The International Criminal Court

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has reacted to the allegations
leveled against him by the Nigerian Army, accusing him of electoral
malpractice and sponsoring armed thugs to disrupt last Saturday,
February 23rd election.

Recall that the Nigerian Army had a press briefing in Port Harcourt,
the state capital yesterday, where they accused Governor Wike of
being involved in series of electoral fraud during last Saturday’s
election.

Reacting to the allegations, the governor at a media briefing held at
the state government house, stated that the State Government has
written to the International Criminal Court to prosecute the General
Officer Commanding ( GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General
Jamil Sarhem for crimes against humanity.

According to a statement released by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu,
Governor Wike at the press briefing, said instead of running in
circles, the killer GOC should explain to Nigerians the reasons why the 6
Division stormed the Collation Centres in Ikwerre, Emohua and Okrika
Local Government Areas with INEC Electoral Officers accusing him of
stealing electoral materials and concocting results.

The Governor added that the General Officer Commanding 6 Division has
the blood of Rivers people on his hands, stating that issuing false
statements will not save the GOC from prosecution. Governor Wike
described the allegations against him as false, malicious and
diversionary .

“We are doing a petition to the International Criminal Court. We are
demanding justice for all those killed by the GOC and his
lieutenants. We will also send a petition to all the major embassies in
the country on the atrocities committed against Rivers people by the GOC
and his soldiers. We have already sent a petition to the Chief of Army
Staff on the criminal actions of the GOC” he said

Governor Wike stated that he has credible intelligence that the GOC
has concluded plans to open fire on his convoy, with the objective of
causing a deadly shoot-out.

“Nigerians watched in utter dismay as three Local Government
Electoral Officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC ) indicted soldiers of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army for
orchestrating electoral violence, snatching election materials and
criminally colluding with APC leaders to concoct results during the
Presidential and National Assembly elections. Rather than respond to
these allegations, the GOC is making diversionary allegations. 

“These weighty indictments of the officers and men of the 6 Division
of the Nigerian Army by the INEC Officials confirm earlier intelligence
that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division, Major
General Jamil Sarham is neck deep in the killings of Rivers people and
manipulation of the elections. Mrs Mary Efeture Imawuya INEC Electoral
Officer of Ikwerre LGA, INEC Electoral Officer for Emohua Local
Government Area, Kenneth Etah and INEC Electoral Officer of Okrika Local
Government Area of Rivers State, Mr Leo Okon who addressed the Rivers
East Senatorial District Collation Centre at Elekahia were unequivocal
in their indictments of the soldiers and their criminal activities
during the elections”, he said.

“The major problem they should defend is the INEC Officers who
declared that the soldiers of the Nigerian Army abducted them , carted
away materials and concocted results”, he added.

The governor noted that it was the soldiers and the Minister of
Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who abducted the the Electoral
Officer of Ikwerre LGA and compelled her to write results.

Governor Wike denied ever making an attempt to compromise the
electoral process . He denied ever offering money to the Soldiers to act
illegally.

He noted that when the soldiers arrested the Rivers State
Commissioner of Urban Development and Physical Planning, Dr Reason Onya
for being among the approved PDP agents to escort materials, the
Commissioner called him. He noted that he requested to speak with the
Officer to demand the release of Onya who was on legal electoral
function for the PDP. He said the officer who declined talking called
back later and he informed him that Onya was on a legal assignment. He
noted that no bribe was offered.

Governor Wike said in his capacity as Governor, he spoke with about
10 different officers when PDP official agents raised concerns.

The Governor said that the mischievous press briefing by the 6 Division is tantamount to a coup against a constituted authority.

“The Army cannot be a judge in their matter. You cannot parade
officials on legal Electoral duties. You cannot change the narrative.
They have violated all known laws” he stressed