The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has told the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 governorship election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, to forget election re-run as he will remain the state’s helmsman till 2019
Though the Rivers state election tribunal has ordered a fresh election in the state, Nyesom Wike, the governor, says his first term ends on May 28, 2019.
Wike accused Dakuku Peterside, his rival and candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), of overheating the polity with “self-deceit and unnecessary political campaigns”.
“His illegal campaign rally last weekend was unfortunate. It has been worsened by the fact that Mr Peterside is still issuing vain campaign statements aimed at overheating the polity,”read a statement issued on Wike’s behalf by Simeon Nwakaudu, his special assistant on media.
“We understand the desperation of Mr Peterside as he is merely dancing to the tunes being played by external forces who want their filthy hands on the resources of Rivers state like they did under the failed administration of Rotimi Amaechi.
“The people of Rivers state voted overwhelmingly for Governor Wike on April 11 and 12. The earlier Mr Peterside comes to terms with this fact, the better for him and his treacherous political party.
“For the records, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike’s lawyers are concluding the appeal process to challenge the judgment of the Justice Suleiman Ambrosa-led Rivers state governorship election tribunal which was premised on the card reader accreditation and the hearsay testimonies of security agents already expunged from the tribunal records by the court of appeal.
“The use of falsehood and propaganda will not take Peterside anywhere near the government house, Port Harcourt. Governor Wike has the mandate of the people of Rivers state and this will be reaffirmed in the appeal process.
“All the governorship tribunals and the appellate courts have jointly resolved that card reader accreditation and hearsay evidence would never constitute the grounds for the nullification of an election. Mr Peterside is aware of this facts, hence his desperation to overheat the polity.
“Governor Wike will complete his first term on May 28, 2019 as endorsed by the people of Rivers State, ordained by God, which will be reaffirmed by the Appellate process.”