How we rigged elections in Rivers under Amaechi – Wike’s ally, Okocha

The embattled chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC in Rivers, Chief Tony Okocha, has made a shocking revelation about his involvement in local council elections rigging in the South-South State under former Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Okocha, a loyalist of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, was recently sacked as the Rivers APC Caretaker Committee chairman by a Port Harcourt High Court presided over by Justice Sika Aprioku.

The judge also ordered the reinstatement of Chief Emeka Beke, who had been removed from office by the national leadership of the APC.

Meanwhile, the two party chieftains appeared on a Channels Television programme on Thursday, October 3, 2024, to discuss the political situation in Rivers.

Okocha, who served as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff from 2007 to 2015, admitted to having participated in rigging elections during the period.

He said rather than being prosecuted for the self-confession, he should be compensated for summoning the courage to blow the whistle on the subject.

“On the issue of whether I rigged the election, I did not hide it. I should be praised as a whistleblower,” he said before the interviewer reminded him that election riggers should be behind bars.

In response, he said, “If you were an armed robber yesterday, and today you came to confess that you stole something somewhere yesterday. Are you saying that the law will now take a retroactive effect? The answer is No.

“The reason why we say and keep saying is because of what is going on as we speak. When you have an idea of a thing and you see the other person also wants to use the tactics that you already know. You will shout. That is the reason why we went to court.”

Okocha says Beke involved in election rigging

He also implicated the reinstated APC chairman in the ballot manipulation, claiming “Yes, all of us were together including Emeka Beke,”

But Beke quickly dismissed the allegation, cautioning Okocha that the Police would arrest him for rigging the election.

“During the election, was I part of it? Have you ever heard me say rig election?” Beke asked before being countered by Okocha who asked, “Are you saying that under the Amaechi government, you never participated.”

“I did not follow you to the election. I did not partake in any election whatsoever. When you wake up and confess and you want to put me there. I am not part of that. You rigged the election and we are going to ask the police to arrest you that you rigged the election,” the reinstated APC chairman replied.