ACN, Bad Losers …As Poor Turnout Mars Planned Protest…-Rivers People

Senator -elect for Rivers South-East, Hon Magnus Abe with his wife, Barr Bariyaa, addressing journalists during the election at unit 5 ward 10, Bera in Gokana LGA, last Saturday. Photo Chris Monyanaga

Leaders and followers of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State have been told to accept the crushing defeat handed the party in the state by the Peoples Democratic Party as the will of the people.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondents, Rivers people were unanimous in their condemnation of the ACN for not accepting what was “clearly a free, fair election” in the state.

“In any election, there must be winners and losers. The ACN lost woefully because the people of Rivers State are comfortable and happy with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state”, said Mr ThankGod Otamini, a native of Chokocho in Etche LGA of the state.

According to him, “everywhere people voted massively for the PDP because Governor Amaechi performed exceedingly well. It is no exaggeration. So ACN should stop crying wolf where there is none and lick their wounds for fielding candidates who lacked the necessary pedigrees”.

In the same vain, Mr Benedict Nianibo, a native of Opono Town in Opobo/Nkoro LGA of the state said ACN was insulting the intelligence of Rivers People by claiming that the election was rigged.

“How can they say it was rigged. We all witnessed it here in Opobo. Everything was done peacefully and in a manner that even the observers who were here were amazed at the conduct of the people throughout the election. They cannot get what they did not deserve. Rivers people rejected ACN and will continue to reject them in future elections”, he said angrily.

For Mr Furtune Kingsley who resides in Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt, the National Assembly polls were,conducted in a peaceful manner, “and our votes counted”.

“I am proud to say I voted and” my vote was counted and result announced in my presence in my polling unit. I heard it was the same thing in all the units. So why are they (ACN) crying now? Did they expect INEC to announce them as winners when they did not win? It is a big shame that they cannot exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship. It is really a shame”, he added.

For Mrs Mathilda Harrison, a business woman, ACN exists only in the media. “They are not on ground anywhere in the 23 LGAs. So how did they expect to win. Rivers people have spoken. PDP is the party of choice here. Let them seek for credible leadership so that the contest can be right. The way things are now, ACN is no match for PDP in Rivers State.

Mr Kennedy Ogboada, a self employed man said ACN from their reaction to last Saturday’s polls in Rivers have shown that they are bad losers. “Everybody in Rivers State knows that PDP is the party to beat in Rivers State. What Governor Amaechi has done is enough. It gives the party victory anytime. ACN did not help matters with the quality of its leadership and the conduct of its candidates. Did they expect a miracle?

“Please tell them to emulate House of Reps Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, former Governor Oyinlola and others and accept their humiliation. They should stop insulting the intelligence of Rivers people”, he concluded.

It would be recalled that the ACN as expected lost miserably in the last National assembly polls in Rivers State as the PDP won all the Senatorial and House of Representatives Seats. That of Port Harcourt Constituency II would be held on April 26, 2011.

Meanwhile, the plan by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to stage a protest to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday over last Saturday’s election could not hold afterall.

The Tide was informed that few members of the ACN gathered at the state party secretariat to march to the INEC office for the peaceful demonstration but the leadership of the party in the state were discouraged by the poor turn-out of supporters and members, yesterday.

Sources hinted The Tide that the ACN executives were not happy over the manner the party lost the National Assembly elections and had planned to stage a peaceful protest.

The ACN had in a press briefing on Sunday after the results were announced, claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rigged last Saturday’s National Assembly polls which the PDP won all the  12 Federal Constituencies seats and the three senatorial seats.

When contacted, the Director of Publicity and Communication of Abiye Sekibo, Mr Jerry Needam, denied that the aborted protest was  because of low turnout of members.

Needam said the protest was aborted because the police and the SSS prevented them from staging the protest in the state.

According to him, the police used armoured vehicles to block the entire Aba Road leading to the GRA junction.

“Peaceful demonstrations were allowed in other states, they are acting on instructions to refuse it  in Rivers State”.

He, however urged all members of the ACN in Rivers State to remain calm and peaceful, stating that the party will win subsequent elections.