BY PHILIP EKE, YENAGOA
The trauma of the Rivers State, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dame Gesila Khan, who was recently invited and detained by DSS in Abuja, is yet to be over, as information making round has it that, there are spurious plans by some group of persons influenced by APC, Chairman of Rivers State, Chief I. Akanya and ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi to Petition EFCC with unfounded, frivolous allegations in order to smear her profile, image over the just concluded general election in Rivers State.
The Niger Delta watch for Democracy (NDWD), a non-governmental group based in the Niger Delta region, with Headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in a press statement issued by its president, Comrade Edwin Ebiowei and Secretary Mr. Tonbra Dicky, respectively, observed that it has uncovered a sinister plans by the defected APC members in Rivers State to malign and bring to pubic odium unfounded allegations against the Rivers State, REC, Dame (Mrs.) Gesila Khan, that are not true.
“We observed with dismay the desperation and negative influence of the APC leaders, former Governor Amaechi and their cohorts, who have vowed to ventilate their anger and bitterness on the REC, over the party abysmal lost at the polls during the last concluded general election in Rivers State,” the group stated.
The group equally pointed out that, all matters relating the just concluded general election in Rivers State, are before a constitutionally set-up Electoral Tribunal, wondering why the desperation of the APC leader, calling for the head of Mrs. Rivers REC.
According to the group, Mrs. Khan, “is like any other REC that.conducted the last general election and performed her duties credibly as enshrined in the electoral guidelines and constitution. Therefore, why is she being single out for this continual onslaught, intimidation.persecution which has now become her lot? Which also, is against the tenants of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and moral ethics, reputation of her person and the office she presently holds.”
“However, as a non-governmental group for equity, justices and.democratic values in the Niger Delta region, we can hear the voice of Jacob and the hands of Esau in this unholy drama.
“We are using this medium to call on the DSS and EFCC not to compromise through the influence and desperation of undemocratic politicians who are trying to influence a matter that is presently before a competent Electoral Tribunal for adjudication.
“We also appeal to President Mohamadu Buhari, all security agents and all lovers of our nascent democracy to be awry of the grand plots against Mrs. Khan, and intervene in this matter as her life is under threat and she can no longer enjoy her fundamental human rights over continues harassment by DSS and desperate APC leaders in Rivers State,” the group stated further.
