Chukwudi Akasike
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday engaged in a war of words over the governor’s claim that the plan of the APC was to rig the June 16, 2018 council poll.
Wike has said imposition of candidates would not be allowed in the Peoples Democratic Party.
The governor, while addressing an expanded state stakeholders meeting of the party at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Saturday, said the party would only allow candidates to emerge through transparent party primaries.
He said, “We will use the local government elections to test the waters. Let people come out and vote, so that we know that we are doing well.”
The governor also stated that rigging of the election was the only strategy left for the APC, through the use of security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission. He, however, said the APC would fail woefully.
“APC has nothing to offer. The only thing they are planning is how to rig elections. But by the grace of God, they will be disappointed,” Wike said.
The governor further said no candidate would emerge through connections with party leaders, but based on their links with the ordinary members of their respective constituencies.
Wike charged party members to ensure that those who would emerge as chairmen and councillors would defend their constituencies during elections.
Reacting, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, said contrary to the governor’s claim, the APC was not planning to rig any election.
Finebone stated, “There can never be any truth in that. The truth is that the governor is a victim of his own shadow. But the APC is not like him. We, the APC, are not planning to rig any election.”
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