At last the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended all matters relating to the re-run election in Rivers State pending the receipt of a comprehensive report from its field officers. The step has been hailed by some stakeholders and observers who said it would help to douse tension in the state. So far only one Federal constituency and eight State Assembly results had been released.

Meantime, the Department of State Services, DSS, claimed it has foiled an assassination attempt on the life of the Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside.

Heavily armed men suspected to be thugs engaged the DSS in a gun-battle at UTC Junction, Old GRA, Port Harcourt. One of the DSS officers assigned to Dakuku Peterside was hit in the leg.

The Chief of Staff to Governor Nyesom Wike, Emeka Woke has been arrested by the DSS in connection with the attack on Peterside.

The NIMASA boss Sunday night confirmed the incident. He said he “narrowly escaped death this afternoon after his vehicle was attacked by gunmen in two utility vehicles on his way from the Port Harcourt International Airport.”

A statement signed by Sylvester Asoya, his Special Assistant on Media said: “Peterside who was in his car with Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, Rivers State All Progressives Congress, APC Chairman and Hon H.O. Asita, Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC in April 2015 election said they escaped the assassins bullets by a stroke of luck.

“Two Jeeps belonging to Emeka Woke, Nyesom Wike’s Chief of Staff carrying two unknown gunmen trailed us to UTC Junction and opened fire on my car. Our car however did a detour to the DSS office gate where we drove to seek refuge but the unknown gunmen opened fire again at the SSS men on guard”.

Picture: Aide of Peterside allegedly hit by bullet fired by the assailants