Politics
THE River State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Chinyere Igwe, the lawmaker representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2 in the House of Representatives, who was in possession of $498,100, allegedly given to him by a presidential candidate for vote buying and to compromise officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Igwe belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Igwe was picked up on Friday, February 23, by men of Rivers State Police Command deployed to INEC Headquarters, Aba Road, shortly after a viral audio recording of alleged voices of a presidential candidate, his vice presidential candidate, and a governor discussing how to win the election.
Also found with Igwe is a list allegedly containing the names and sharing formula of the money.
A statement issued on Friday by Grace Iringe-Koko, Police Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the arrest noting that Abutu Yaro, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of elections in the state, has ordered a rapid process for interrogation and arraignment in court.
The statement reads that “Police Officers from Rivers State Command deployed to INEC Headquarters Aba Road today 24/2/2023 at about 0245hrs, while on stop and search, arrested one Hon Chinyere Igwe, member House of Representatives representing Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency with a cash sum of 498,100 USD inside a bag in his car.”
“Also recovered was a list for distribution of the money. The AIG Election, AIG Abutu Yaro, has ordered swift interrogation and arraignment in court.
“The Command urges all contestants and political parties to comply strictly with provisions of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws.
“Members of the public are encouraged to avail themselves of the following hotlines to report any observation they believe have the potential to lead to crime or break down of law and order: 08032003514, 08098880134.”
According to a report from Channels TV, the arrest comes barely two days after the premises of Atlantic TV and Wish FM belonging to Igwe were attacked with explosives.
Realnews gathered that Igwe was a campaigner for Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Contacted, one of the spokespersons of the Atiku Campaign, distanced his principal from the scandal, saying that Igwe is a candidate in the election and is representing his interest not that of the presidential candidate. Dismissing the allegation that Igwe was working for his principal, he said that it was “speculative and libelous”.
However, a check revealed that Igwe’s name is not on the list of those contesting for the House of Representatives or Senate published by INEC recently.
Also, reacting to the audio recording of voices allegedly said to be that of Atiku, Govenor Aminu Tambuwal and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, discussing how to win the election by compromising INEC officials, the spokesperson said that recorded voices were artificial intelligence and not that of his principal.
Reacting, Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as utter rubbish, an audio clip on social media wherein he purportedly revealed plans by himself, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to rig the presidential election.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s special assistant on Public Communication, the PDP presidential candidate, said the latest fake audio clip in circulation was a confirmation of his warning last week that the opposition would deepen its propaganda ahead of the election.
Shaibu said, “We warned last week that as the election approaches, there will be a spike in the rate of propaganda on social media. With barely 24 hours to the poll, we have witnessed propaganda from not just the All Progressives Congress but the Labour Party as well.
“In this latest drivel, a montage of speeches delivered by Atiku, Tambuwal, and Okowa since last year were manipulated and pieced together to give an impression that they were discussing plans to rig Saturday’s election. In this age of artificial intelligence technology, even dead people can be portrayed as delivering speeches. This is nothing new.
“For the record, Atiku has run in two presidential elections and has never been indicted or prosecuted for election violence or vote buying.
“But some people think they can sell a narrative of Atiku manipulating this election. This is indeed the height of desperation, the last kick of a dying horse. The APC and the Labour Party must note that elections are not won on social media but at the polling units.”
Atiku said the audio clip, which had been shared numerous times on WhatsApp, could be identified easily as a fake even from the tone of the purported discussants.
He added, “It is unfortunate that those seeking power will engage in outdated defeatist tactics. How can Tambuwal be referring to Atiku by his full name in a one-on-one private conversation? This is nonsensical, similar to the type of meaningless chatter about President Muhammadu Buhari being dead and replaced by one Jubril from Sudan.”
Atiku also advised his supporters not to engage in the propaganda war, which had become the style of both the APC and the Labour Party. He said they should respond by voting massively for the PDP on Saturday.
He added, “When they descend to the level of baseless propaganda, we will rise above it with dignity and respond with our PVCs. This election is a watershed in Nigerian history. Nigerians must not lose sight of what is most important, which is the need to rebuild this broken system, revitalize the economy, and improve security and the hope of the people in a united Nigeria.”
The presidential candidate called on the police and other security agencies as well as INEC to remain fair and neutral in the polls.
He asked them to go after those behind the audio tape in line with Section 123(c) of the Electoral Act which provides that any person who before or during an election publishes any statement about the personal character or conduct of a candidate calculated to prejudice the chance of election of the candidate or to promote or procure the election of another candidate and such statement is false and was published without reasonable grounds for belief by the person publishing it that the statement is true, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months or both.
Below is the transcript of the voice recording:
TRANSCRIPT OF VOICE RECORDING OF HOW ATIKU, OKOWA AND TAMBUWAL PLAN TO RIG PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ATIKU: There will be need to bring in the INEC OKOWA: There will be need to interface with INEC and not create suspicion TAMBUWAL: For me to accept to go into this, let us strategize and discuss the arrangement and how it can be achieved. ATIKU: Tambuwal, that's why we are meeting. Let us sit down and find any other technology that may be used to make sure we emerge. We have to look for a way to find loopholes. OKOWA: We are going to provide for the INEC officials starting from the polling units through to the ward collation centers and I just hope that we are going to find a way to rig the elections. This is the best time. ATIKU: It is not enough. First of all, you give money to the state INEC. There will be need to bring in the INEC and also make sure they don't use BVAS. We have seen what the use caused in Osun. Atiku Abubakar, I am with you on this one. OKOWA: And you also supervise to ma
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Tags: Chinyere Igwe Grace Iringe-Koko INEC
