Ekwi Adebisa, an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission, was between Saturday, March 19 and Sunday March 20, held hostage by the Rivers state government, says Ibim Semenitari, Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

According to Semenitari, the collation officer was coerced by ‘Governor Nyesom Wike and a retinue of aides’ into writing a statement insinuating that the All Progressives Congress made her falsify the result of the ward she oversaw.

Adebisa, the collation officer of ward 10, Port Harcourt local government (PHALGA), in the Rivers rerun election, allegedly went missing with the result sheet on Saturday.

The collation officer was on Sunday morning, reported to have been found, and taken to the police station in Mile One, Port Harcourt.

Subsequently, Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi- alongside Dakuku Peterside, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Safety Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA; Davis Ikanya, Rivers APC Chairman and Ibim Semenitari, Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and other officials of the All Progressives Congress, stormed the police station.

Governor Wike, his aides and members of the Peoples Democratic Party also stormed the station, where both camps engaged in a war of words.

While Wike had alleged that Amaechi’s camp abducted the collation officer, Semenitari, in a statement by her Special Assistant (Media), Bekee Anyalewechi, said: “We have received with bemusement, the attempt by the Rivers State Government and its image managers to retell the facts of the incident of Sunday, March 20, 2016, which occurred at the Mile One Police Divisional Headquarters in Port Harcourt.”

“Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, in company with a retinue of aides, invaded the police station, held the INEC Collation Officer for Port Harcourt Ward 10, Mrs. Ekwi Adebisa, hostage. It is not in our style to take issues with any tier of government, it is imperative that we state the facts, because of the need to safeguard our electoral process and strengthen the confidence of our people in their leaders.”

“Mrs Ekwi Adebisa, the Port Harcourt City Ward 10 Collation Officer, for the March 19 rerun legislative election in Rivers State, was moved by force to the police station. The result she had collated was separated from her. While at the police station, agents of the Rivers State Government brought her under duress to write a statement that she had been abducted and made to falsify the ward result by agents of APC.”

“That they forced her to the police station and kept under traumatic condition was in itself criminal, but that they had forced the result she had lawfully collated out of her custody was more criminal. Governor Wike had arrived the police station, accompanied by Senator George Sekibo (sacked from Rivers East), Mr. Austin Opara (former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives) and Azubuike Nmerukini, as well as other aides to the governor.”

“As a leader in APC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, being in attendance at the meeting, was among those delegated to go see what the actual development was. When Mrs. Semenitari and others arrived at the police facility, they confirmed the report.”

“It was shocking to read a statement issued by Simeon Nwakudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, linking Mrs. Semenitari to facts contrary to the truth stated. As a responsible citizen and public officer, Mrs. Semenitari could not have engaged in any conduct unbecoming of her status.”

“As a Nigerian and Rivers daughter (from coastal Opobo, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro LGA of Rivers State, but married to an Okrika man, Henry Semenitari), she would always and at all times, protect and defend what promotes good governance. May God keep us all safe in these curious times that try our people’s souls.”