The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike

  • Rivers Guber: PDP urges INEC to declare Wike winner

    Following the results of the fact finding committee set up by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the manifest disruption of the collation of the results of the 9th March 2019 Governorship and House of Assembly general elections, the state PDP has called on INEC to announce its candidate as winner of the election.

    This is contained in the statement by the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, and made available to the Nation on Saturday.

    The Rivers State PDP said it has accepted the pronouncements INEC made, after receiving the report of the fact finding committee, as substantial representation of the true state of the electoral process before the suspension.

    According to the statement, “After a thorough and holistic review of the report and findings of its Committee, INEC has in a release on the night of Friday 15th March 2019 made three fundamental verdictson the elections in Rivers State, as follows:

    “It has the complete collated results of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in 17 local Government Areas of the State in safe custody;

    “21 out of 32 State constituency results of the State had already been declared and returned as elected prior to when it suspended the electoral process in the State; and it would on 20th March 2019 issue detailed timelines and activities for the completion of the election in the State.”

    The Rivers State PDP, however, wished to draw the INEC’s attention to the fact that in addition to the 17 Local Government Areas with fully collated results, the elections also successfully held and results declared at the unit and ward levels in five of the six other Local Government Areas where full collation of results is still pending.

    The Rivers PDP therefore urged the INEC to follow its guidelines to fill the missing gap, if any, in the collation process for the remaining five Local Government Areas by generating the full results from the unit results already in its custody and declare our candidates the clear and unassailable winners of the 9th March 2019 Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.

    “We commend the INEC for standing by the truth and for its courage and principled determination to ensure that the votes of the people of Rivers State as freely and overwhelmingly expressed on the 9th of March 2019 in favour of the PDP effectively count.

    “We also commend the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Yusuf Tukur Buratai for inaugurating the Major-General TA Gagariga’s led Committee to probe the allegations of misconduct, including the assassination attempt on our Governor, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike by soldiers during the 2019 general elections,” the statement added.

    The party also called on the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Adamu to institute a similar panel to probe the brazen involvement of the Rivers State Commander of F-SARS, Mr. Akin Fakorode and his gang of police operatives in the organized invasion of polling units, collation centers, abduction of electoral officers and the shooting and killing of innocent persons during the general elections at Khana, Gokana, Ikwerre, Eleme, Tai, Oyigbo and Ogu/Bolo Local Governments of the State.

  • Rivers poll: results from 17 LGAs in our custody, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that results from 17 Local Government areas out of 23 in Rivers governorship election are available and in the commission’s custody.

    INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday night by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.

    Okoye said that the commission made the declaration after its meeting on Friday where it considered the report of the Fact-Finding Committee set up to assess the situation in Rivers where election process was suspended.

    The Commission had on March 10, suspended all electoral processes in Rivers having determined that there was widespread disruption of collation of results of the elections conducted in the state on March 9.

    Subsequently, the Commission set up a Fact-Finding Committee to assess the situation and report back within 48 hours.

    Okoye said that the Commission met on Friday and considered the report of the Committee and established that the Governorship and state House of Assembly elections took place in most of the polling units and results were announced.

    “That the results from 17 Local Governments out of 23 are available and are in the Commission’s custody.

    “That the Declaration and Returns for 21 State Constituencies out of 32 were made prior to the suspension.

    “That collation centres were invaded by some soldiers and armed gangs resulting in the intimidation and unlawful arrest of election officials thereby disrupting the collation process,” he said.

    Okoye said that consequently upon the foregoing, the Commission was committed to expeditious completion of the collation process where results of the elections had been announced.

    The national commissioner said that INEC would issue detailed timelines and activities for the completion of the election on Wednesday, March 20.

    He added that the commission expressed its displeasure with the role played by some soldiers and armed gangs in the state, disrupting the collation process and attempting to subvert the will of the people.

    Okoye said the commission also resolve that it “will engage the security agencies at national level and the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee at the state level to demand neutrality and professionalism of security personnel in order to secure a peaceful environment for the completion of the elections.

    “The commission will also engage with key stakeholders in Rivers State with a view to ensuring a smooth and peaceful completion of the process.”

  • Wike: no conspiracy can defeat Rivers PDP tomorrow

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot lose in tomorrow’s elections because the people are firmly with the party.

    According to him, tomorrow’s elections will be used to end the illegal activities of political monsters in the state.

    A statement by the governor’s media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said Wike spoke during a town hall meeting with leaders of Rivers East Senatorial District yesterday, urged the people not to be intimidated by soldiers.

    He said: “There is no way the PDP will lose Rivers State and they tell the world that the elections are credible. Even if we want to play politics, how will they explain to the International community that PDP lost to an unknown party that did not campaign?

    “How many soldiers will they deploy to implement the rigging? I am not worried about their bringing more troops from Sokoto and Kafanchan, God is our security. During the Presidential and National Assembly elections, they struggled for 25 per cent, but they did not get it.”

    The governor noted that Rivers has passed the stage where a failed politician will direct the people on who to vote three days to the election. He reiterated that nobody will play God in Rivers State, and emphasised that Rivers people must stand firm to give PDP victory tomorrow.

    “Nobody should be afraid; come out and vote for the PDP. Your votes will be counted; your votes will be protected. We will win tomorrow because we know that God is with us. Those who think they have the power will face God. They want to disrupt the elections to instigate postponement; do not fall into their hands,” he added.

    Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Onueze Okocha said Wike has done well and will be voted in for a second term.

    He described Wike as a great product that will lead the PDP to victory without noise, and promised that Rivers East will continue to promote the governor’s achievements.

    Former governor Celestine Omehia noted that everything about the election has gone smoothly for Rivers PDP because God was involved. He boasted that the PDP will win tomorrow’s elections.

  • ‘Amaechi mobilising militants to disrupt polls’

    •’INEC chair working for Wike, PDP’

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and his cohorts, have concluded plans to bomb offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), destroy voting materials and disrupt the elections.

    In a state broadcast yesterday, Wike said: “Credible intelligence has linked Rotimi Amaechi and his cohorts to plans to scuttle the elections in Rivers State, with the support of unpatriotic military and police officers.

    “The security officers have been detailed to provide covert and overt operations for Amaechi’s armed militants and thugs in military camouflage and fake police uniforms to bomb INEC offices, cart away or destroy voting materials at registration area centres, and disrupt the voting process.

    According to the governor, several Hilux vehicles painted in military colours and gunboats have been handed over to the militants to carry out the illegal attack.

    He said: “It is therefore unfortunate that instead of using internal party mechanisms to settle the crisis before it was too late, Rotimi Amaechi chose to act with impunity and is now haunted by the unpleasant outcomes of his arrogance and disdain for due process.

    “Even at that, the Supreme Court has spoken, and the only rational path left for Amaechi is to recognise that justice has prevailed over impunity.”

    The governor admonished Amaechi to be behave maturely by “accepting the consistent decisions of the courts in good faith, eat the humble pie, put his damaged political enclave in order and wait for 2023 elections”.

    “I appeal to the conscience of Rotimi Amaechi, as a brother and fellow compatriot, to stop stoking the drumbeats of violence and allow the prevailing peace to continue in our state,” Wike added.

    But Amaechi, in his reaction, accused Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, of working for Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Amaechi addressed reporters last night in reaction to Wike’s broadcast earlier in the day. He urged Nigerians to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of APC to take Nigeria to the next level.

    He said: “I know that everybody has been expecting me to talk on the court cases, but I will not, because I am just a party member. The party chairman has already said INEC is working for the PDP, an example is the fact that there is a stay of execution granted by the Court of Appeal, just because the INEC Chairman was Director of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFUND) under Wike as Minister of State for Education, he now chose the court order to implement and the one not to.

    “Obviously, the INEC chairman is trying to assist Wike become a second term governor without election. We understand his game, but we believe in the judiciary. You heard the President when he said the injustice will be addressed. We will deal with the justice and not the judgment.

    “I listened to our governor when he spoke about violence. I do not like violence, because if you kill somebody, you cannot replace the life. APC has just lost 15 persons to stampede at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, and I was touring people’s houses to identify with their pains.

    “When former President Goodluck Jonathan came for campaign here and 23 people died, I saw them eating lunch. Persons have gone, whether for good or for bad, they will never come back. I will never support violence and I will never support injustice.

    “We will vote on Saturday for President Buhari. If INEC decides to obey the stay of execution, then we will arrange for election. But since the INEC chairman is working for the PDP and does not want to obey the court’s decisions, so be it. God bless him.”

  • Rivers begins reclamation of Coastal Towns

    Rivers begins reclamation of Coastal Towns

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has inaugurated the dredging, sand filling and reclamation of Bakana and Abalama coastal towns as part of the regeneration of riverine towns

    Azikel Dredging Ltd, which won the technical and financial bid for the project, has commenced the execution of the project.

    During the inauguration of the project, President of Azikel Group, Dr. Eruani Azibapu Godbless, promised to ensure that oceanic tidal and massive wave energy effect that had resulted in the loss of these communities’ land would be regained.

    On completion, 39 hectares are to be reclaimed in both communities, within the nine-month period. He pleaded for the participation and support of the critical stakeholders’ women and the youths that would be engaged in the course of this project, these projects would bringboth human and infrastructural development to the state.

    While speaking at the flag-off, Governor Nyesom Wike called on stakeholders to give the desired support to the contractors that has shown competence by mobilizing to site, even as he assured the company of adequate security and co-operation towards the completion of the
    project. The Chief of Bakana, who celebrated the governor for the project, called him Mr. Project for the massive economic programme across the state; and shared optimism that the project would be completed on schedule as the contracting firm has been mobilized to site.

    The flag off ceremonies was well attended by enthusiastic community members, youth, women and traditional leaders. Accompanying the Governor, were the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Dr. Mrs Ipalibo Banigo, Former Deputy Speaker House of Representative Rt. Hon Austin Opara, Fmr. Minister of Sports Hon Tam Danagogo and other Senior Citizens of Rivers State. The Azikel Group team was led by Azikel Group President, Dr. Eruani Azibapu Godbless, Executive Director Operations, Presley Asemota, Director Engineering Project, Browne Litman and Multination expatriate and local of Azikel Dredging Nig Ltd.

    The Paramount Ruler of Abalama in appreciation of what the governor has done, assured the Group President of Azikel that community would do everything to ensure community participation, comfort and a conducive environment from inception to completion of the project.
    He thanked the governor and celebrated him for fulfilling his promise to bring succor to communities that has suffered coastal challenges by ensuring the dredging, sandfilling, reclamation and regeneration of affected communities.