Ibrahim Idris, Nigeria’s inspector general of police has launched an investigation into the audio recording published by online tabloid, SaharaReporters which it says contains a conversation between Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
A statement signed by Don Awunah, the public relations officer for the Nigeria Police Force, and emailed to The Trent on Saturday, December 17, 2016 announced that the police boss has ordered an investigation into an INEC report saying that 70 violent electoral offences occurred during the just concluded Rivers legislative rerun polls.
In addition, the statement said, that Mr. Ibrahim has mandated the investigative team “to conduct forensic analysis on the audio report released by SaharaReporters purportedly to be the voice of the executive governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike (CON) pertaining to the concluded elections”.
The Rivers State government has said that the audio recording is a “sick fabrication and outright lies” and slammed SaharaReporters, a mouthpiece of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC saying that the online tabloid and the APC are “inmates of a prison of their own lies”.
The full press statement is republished below:
THE IGP SET UP PANEL TO INVESTIGATE SEVENTY (70) INCIDENTS CREDITED TO INEC CHAIRMAN PROF. YAKUBU MAHMUD ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2016 RIVERS STATE RE-RUN ELECTION
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni in response to the statement credited to the INEC chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmud to the effect that there were seventy incidents that tended to derail the 10th December, 2016 re-run elections in Rivers State has set up a team of detectives and experts to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents mentioned by the INEC chairman with a view to unravelling those who directly or indirectly are responsible for such incidences and bring them to justice.
The investigative team is also mandated to conduct forensic analysis on the audio report released by Sahara Reporters purportedly to be the voice of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike (CON) pertaining to the concluded elections.
The Government of Rivers State and INEC are enjoined to avail the investigative team with facts at their disposal and grant them the desired cooperation and assistance to achieve a comprehensive and conclusive investigation. The election observers, civil society groups, Human Rights watchers and other stakeholders are equally called upon to assist the team with valuable information they may have.
The Nigeria Police Force is committed to enthroning the principles of democratic policing and ensures that the IGPs master plan on election security takes hold in Nigeria in accordance with international best practices and core value of Policing with integrity.
The investigative team is headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police who has vast experience in investigation. The team has 30 days to complete the investigation and submit report. The findings will be made public.
DCP Don N. Awunah fsi,
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters
