Provide Level Playing Ground, Rivers ACD Tells Police

The Advance Congress of
Democrats (ACD) has urged the Rivers State Police to ensure a level playing ground among all the political parties in the State.
The  Chairman of the Party in the State, Nweke Echecolom stated this yesterday when the state executive of the party paid a courtesy call on the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Tunde Ogunshakin.
The party vowed not to accept any intimidation from any agency or authority, promising however, that it was ready to work with the Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure hitch-free and peaceful elections in the state.
Echecolom said the party officials were in the Commissioner’s office to present its manifesto and constitution as well as rubs minds together on how to ensure a zero violence during and after elections.
According to him, “All what we are requesting for is for the Police to ensure peaceful elections and create an enabling ground for all the registered parties”.
He commended the Police Commissioner for the peace the state has enjoyed since he assumed duties in the state.
“Your men have been up and doing. They are always on duty and the crime rates have reduced”, he said.
The legal officer of the party, Bar. ThankGod Nwugha also commended the Police boss for granting the party’s request for security during its State Congress, recently.
The Party’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Emem Chigozie, expressed satisfaction with the high rising profile of the party nation wide, stating that the party was built on a strong foundation of priority and honesty with any to ensure true democracy for the people.
In his response, the Commissioner of Police, assured that the Police Command under him would create an enabling environment for all political interests in the state, without any form of bias or discrimination, adding that he was in the state to maintain peace and order.
Ogunshakin, however, reminded the party that the ban on political rally in the state was still on,explaining that the recent ban on Youth protest was to prevent a situation where politicians would continue to use youths for political unrest.
According to him, “I will not discriminate. All the parties involved will be given fair hearing”, he said.

Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwanee (right), State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Opaka Dokubo (left), assisting a member of the Assembly’s Press Corps, Mr Ruskin Amadi and his family to cut his 50th birthday cake in Port Harcourt last Monday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga