The immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and police operatives over the governorship and house of assembly elections conducted in Rivers State.
Amaechi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the exercise in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state as a complete failure of governance.
Briefing journalists on Saturday after casting his vote at Ward 8, Unit 14, Ubima Community, the former Rivers Governor accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state of clamping down on opposition parties in Rivers.
He explained that the situation led to voter apathy in Rivers as most people failed to show up for the polls for fear of being beaten. The former minister accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) of being behind the act.
“There is a total failure of governance in the country, complete failure such that police is helping PDP arrest APC, SDP members,” he stated.
He explained that thugs were unleashing violence on people who were determined not to vote for the ruling PDP in the oil-rich state.
“People are being arrested and nobody has spoken. The governor has no right to declare anyone wanted.
“The Inspector General of Police is doing nothing, nobody is doing anything. Now there is voter apathy. I don’t know if it cuts across the country but there is complete voter apathy in Rivers State,” Amaechi added.
Though the election was peaceful in his community, Amaechi said that there are reports of the arrest of candidates of the APC for the polls.
He alleged that the materials brought for the election at his unit were fake, but that they decided to vote in order to allow peace to reign.