Three people were reported injured after two explosions rocked an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally at the Rumu-Woji Play Ground, also known as Ojukwu Field, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Publicity Secretary of the APC, Rivers State, Darlington Nwauju, who shared photos of two female members affected, said: “It is another black day in the annals of democracy, where all sorts of underhand strategies are being deployed to frustrate opposition political parties in Rivers State.
“The National Security Adviser, NSA, General Mohammed Monguno; the Director of the Department of State Service, DSS, and Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali, must zero in on Rivers State and stamp out politically sponsored violence.
“No single opposition politician is safe. We have also intercepted credible intelligence of plans to attack key opposition politicians in Rivers State,” he added.
Meanwhile, the APC in the state has condemned the explosions.
Publicity Secretary of Rivers APC, Nwauju, confirmed that Miss Hope Isaac, the worst injured among the victims, had 15 shrapnel removed from her legs in a medical operation.
Joe Korka-Waadah, Canada-based political consultant and diaspora stalwart of Rivers APC, in his condemnation, said: “This familiar barbarism must not be allowed to rear its ugly head as Rivers goes into elections again with APC strongest chance to end the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the hegemony of governance by intimidation in Rivers.
“Irrespective of where this is coming from, this obvious response by those who are afraid of the Tonye Cole (Rivers APC guber candidate) unstoppable move to takeover Rivers Government House in May will not stop party supporters from going ahead with their campaigns ahead of the general elections.
“Nevertheless, the Police Command in the state owes a duty to investigate the matter and ensure perpetrators are made to face the law. Rivers APC remains committed to its struggle to win the forthcoming elections in order to restore the lost glory of our state.”