PDP Frustrate Plans To Probe Election Killings In Rivers State

A Panel of Inquiry charged with probing alleged politically-motivated killings in Rivers state has suffered temporary setback following the boycott by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over questions about the commission’s legality.

Amaechi and other APC supporters besieged Rivers INEC office to demand for election cancellation: Photo / Premium Times

The party, according to Premium Times, took the decision to boycott the panel on Monday , May 11, after members of the panel rejected the party’s move to enforce a court order restraining it from sitting,
Counsel to the PDP, Emmanuel Aguma, explained that the party secured a Federal High Court’s interim order restraining the Commission from sitting. He added that following the panel’s refusal to subject itself to the court order, the party also abstained from the proceedings because it flouted the rule of law.
The panel however argued that it could not adhere to the court order without fixing a date to hear counsels arguments and judicial authorities on the issue.
It  then agreed to hear the arguments of the counsels on Wednesday but this was rejected by the the PDP on the grounds that that the Commission is adjourning till Wednesday to coincide with the time the 14 day life span of an interim court order would have elapsed.
The 2015 general elections in Rivers State was marred in violence amidst allegations that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) influenced results in both the presidential and the gubernatorial elections.
There were allegations that politicians gave military fatigues to thugs during the polls who wreaked havoc on voters. Governor Rotimi Amaechi also accused the electoral commissioner in charge of the Rivers state of deliberately truncating the electoral process in the state so as to favour President Jonathan.