APC Registration Records Large Turn-Out Amidst Intimidation

The All Progressive Con
gress (APC), Rivers State chapter says, the party’s on-going membership registration in the State was quite impressive despite the alleged move by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to thwart the exercise in some parts of the State.
The Acting Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Andrew Nweye said this on Friday while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
According to him, apart from Degema, Andoni, Okrika, among others where the registration exercise was disrupted by sponsored thugs believed to be working for PDP, the registration exercise shows that Rivers people are ready to support APC for change in the state.
He said the reports received so far at the State Secretariat of the party indicated that the party would be having above one million people as active members of the party in the state, apart from supporters and sympathizers.
Our correspondents who monitored the registration exercise reported that the exercise in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Khana, Eleme, Oyigbo, Andoni, Ahoada East and Ahoada West went on smoothly with influx of people lined up for registration.
There were, however, reports of intimidation and harrassment of APC members in some areas. Six persons who were members of APC were seriously injured in Andoni Local Government Area of the State by some hoodlums alleged to be PDP supporters.
Speaking to The Tide, one of the victims at Asarama town, Mr Fembo Gabriel said, he was attacked by a group of eight boys, who forcefully-collected the registration materials and dispatched the intended members who came for registration at Egendem units and Unit Two, Egeweidake at Asarama ward.
Mr. Gabriel was immediately taken to health centre at Nkoro town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area and later moved to Bori General Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the APC has warned the PDP politicians to desist from attacking its (APC) members during and after the on-going registration.
The Acting Chairman of the party in Andoni Local Government Area, Chief Clifford Njah gave the warning last Friday after visiting APC members that were attacked during APC’s membership registration exercise, saying politicians in the present PDP are still under-developed in minds.

Enoch Epelle