Reports emanating from Rivers state suggests that the Department of State Security prevented Peterside Dakuku, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2015 governorship election in the state, from being assassinated on Sunday.

Chukwuemeka Woke, the Chief of Staff to Governor Nyesom Wike, was accused of leading a killer squad in two Sport Utility Vehicles- to trail and subsequently open fire at Dakuku’s car.

A press statement was issued to this effect from the office of the Managing Director of NIMASA.

He claimed that the gunmen trailed him from Aba Road as he drove towards his house in the GRA area of Port Harcourt, but as the vehicle was about to turn into the road leading to his home, the gunmen attempted to overtake.

This was said to have prompted Dakuku to change course and drive to the state headquarters of the DSS as his security aide had already radioed for help.

After Dakuku gained entrance into the premises of the DSS, officers at the gate reportedly opened fire on the two SUVs trailing him and succeeded in overpowering, disarming and arresting the occupants of the car.

“One of Mr. Dakuku’s security aides was seriously injured as a result of exchange gunfire during the thirty-minute long encounter”, the statement added.

However, on the flip-side, Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, released a statement on Sunday night, alleging that Dakuku ‘directed his security details to murder’ Chukwuemeka Woke.

The statement reads: “All is now set for the prosecution of Dakuku Peterside, defeated Rivers State Governorship Candidate and NIMASSA Managing Director who on Sunday directed his security details to murder an aide to the Chief of Staff to Governor Wike while fleeing with some result sheets from Ikwerre Local Government Area.”

“The incident took place at the UTC junction in GRA after Dakuku Peterside instead of taking Ikwerre Local Government Area result sheets snatched from collation officers to INEC office drove with it towards the GRA.”

“He had stormed the Collation Centre in Isiokpo with soldiers after which he hijacked the already collated results, which included the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency. Chief of Staff to Governor Wike, Engr Emeka Woke is a PDP Collation Agent for Emohua Local Government Area. Dakuku Peterside, plays politics from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area and has no links with Ikwerre Local Government Area.”

“After he snatched the results alongside his defeated running mate, Asita Asita, Dakuku Peterside and the soldiers fled towards Port Harcourt. The PDP leaders of Ikwerre and Emohua Federal Constituency followed suit.”

“At Omagwa near the airport, the soldiers withdrew leaving the SARS personnel from Abuja to take over the electoral theft operation. At Omagwa, defeated APC candidate for Ikwerre State Constituency, Azubike Wanjoku attempted to murder the LGA Electoral Officer when he used his Armoured Sports Utility Vehicle to ram into the Electoral Officer’s car. The SARS personnel with Dakuku Peterside also opened fire on the rest of the people. The Electoral Officer was shot.”

“It was from this point that Dakuku Peterside motorcade in neck-breaking speed drove towards Port Harcourt. Chief of Staff to Governor Wike, Engr Emeka Woke became a victim as the same SARS personnel with Dakuku Peterside opened fire on the vehicle of the Chief of Staff. Like in the case of infamous Chidi Lloyd, Dakuku Peterside went ahead to release a false press statement on the issue.”