Bomb Explosion Rocks APC Rally In Rivers State - 50 Injured

It was reported from Okrika Grammar school in Rivers State that there where sporadic gunshot at the venue where the APC rally was held yesterday.

According to source, supporters gathered at the venue waiting for the arrival of the chieftains and leaders of the All Progressive Congress when the explosion to rocked. However, hundreds of APC supporters sustained injuries while some stampede at the rally ground was recorded.

Meanwhile the Rivers State Police Command confirmed the death of a police who lost his life during the sporadic shooting at the venue of APC governorship rally in Okrika, three others sustained gunshot injuries.

In a statement released by the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmed Muhammad confirmed that a journalist with Channels television, Charles Eruka, was stabbed by suspected political thugs, who shot sporadically and detonated explosives at the venue of the APC rally yesterday.

The Police said it was the timely action of its men that saved the situation from degenerating further.

However the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress Dr Dakuku Peterside, told news men that over 50 members of the All Progressive Congress sustained injuries during the attack.

Although the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi has condemned the incident. He however blamed the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan for the attack on members and supporters of APC in Okrika.

It was also revealed that the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Evans Bipi, was behind the mobilization of thugs to carry out the attack on APC yesterday, this allegation was denied by Mr. Evans Bipi.

‘‘Who said he was in Bayelsa State condoling with families of women of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that lost their lives in an auto crash over the weekend along the famous East-West Road’’.

From all indication, this is the second time the governorship campaign rally of the APC has been aborted in Okrika the home town of the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan

In the mean time the Peoples Democratic Party in the state has dissociated itself from the development, urging the police to expose the culprits.

In a statement, the PDP Chairman, Media and Publicity Mr. Emmanuel Okah has appealed for a peaceful Rivers State before and after the forthcoming elections.

Quote:

 “The PDP, Rivers State, disassociates itself from the reported violence which took place during the APC governorship rally in Okrika; we hereby call for peace in the state as we prepare for the forthcoming general elections’’. The party condemned the act, stressing that the PDP will never think of anything violence.The PDP is a peace loving party and believes that everybody should be given equal opportunity in all parts of the country to hold rallies and canvass for votes.