Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has threatened to resist any attempt to force a state of emergency on Rivers State because of the increase in the rate of violence in the South-South state.
The party, in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, alleged that the violence is being engineered to impose an emergency on the state, stating that the plan will fail.
PDP said if emergency is declared in Rivers State, there would be dire consequences.
The party also said it has rallied all its formation in the state to stiffly resist by all means necessary in a democracy any move by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to scuttle the Saturday’s National and State Assembly rerun elections in the state.
“The party is privy to a grand design by the APC to orchestrate violence in the state with a view to truncating the elections, having realized that the PDP and its candidates are more popular and ready to win overwhelmingly in all the reruns.
“We are aware that the orchestration of violence is designed to serve as stimulus for the planned imposition of a state of emergency to enable the APC forcefully take over the state which is failed to get through the ballot box.
“We also know the design to unleash violence is behind the recent infamous call by APC spokesman in Ondo state, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya for emergency rule in Rivers state.
“What else, apart from the execution of this plot explains the complains from our candidates and members in Rivers state of constant threats by partisan security operatives as well as the recent gale of arrests, attacks and killing of PDP supporters in the state?
“But let it be known that Rivers state is a stronghold of the PDP and that such profane quest would be squarely and comprehensively greeted with intense resistance and very dire consequences.
“Our position is guarded by the fact that we remain a responsible and law-abiding party committed to the sanctity of our electoral process, the interest and will of the Nigerian people. Besides, we have the numbers and the people of Rivers state are solidly behind us.
“It is on this note that we totally welcome President Muhammadu Buhari’s warning to those instigating violence and causing mayhem in Rivers state. It is our belief that the President’s warning is more directed to APC supporters who have shown unique thirst for violence,” the PDP said in the statement.
The party further noted that, “The hallmark of democracy is the inalienable rights of the citizens to freely choose their leaders; vote and be voted for, and we believe this right must be fully protected at all times.”
“While we expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use Saturday’s polls to redeem its image by ensuring that the elections were not only credible but also conclusive, we support the people of Rivers state in their demonstrated resolve to stand up and use all lawful means necessary in a democracy to defend their votes in the reruns as well as protect the state government they voted for,” it implored.
