26 days after, INEC declares Wike winner of Rivers gov’ship poll

…Victorious Governor salutes courage of Rivers people

…AAC rejects result, accuses INEC of manipulating entire electoral process in Rivers

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt & Tunde Opalana, Abuja

Second day into the resumed collation of the governorship election in Rivers State, the incumbent Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has been declared winner of the March 9, election.

This brings to an end the palpable tension that enveloped the state since the halting of the collation of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Following the result announced by INEC, Governor Wike polled 886, 264 while his closest contender, Mr. Biokpomabo Awara, the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), trailed behind with 173, 859 votes.

The commission announced the results from 21 local government areas out of the 23 local government areas of the state.

The State Returning Officer, who doubles as the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Teddy Adias, declared Wike winner of the Rivers governorship poll in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Governor Wike, elated by the victory, saluted the courage of Rivers people, who he said, stood faithfully by the PDP and strongly defended their votes against all odds.

The Governor also thanked God for granting him and Rivers people victory.

Meanwhile, the AAC state agent, Dr. Lawrence Chukwu, has rejected the result as announced by INEC.

Dr. Chukwu alleged that the result which did not surprise his party, was premeditated by INEC.

He alleged that the election was run by INEC against the AAC, and accused the commission of haven manipulated the entire electoral process in Rivers State.

He said: “It is very very regrettable for INEC to walk down to Rivers State to tell us that they have already collated results of 17 LGAs and that they are awaiting 6.

That is false because we have challenged them and we are also challenging them.

If INEC can show us a video coverage showing the collation in these 17 LGAs, showing the E0s, ROs, COs, and different party agents, then we will accept whatever thing they come out with.”

As at the time of this report, it is not clear whether the AAC would challenge the result in the court, Chukwu said the party would study the results before taking any decision.

Efforts to reach the All Progressives Congress (APC) to react to the declaration of Wike as the winner, as at press time, proved fruitless.

All the phone calls put across to the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Rivers State, Mr. Chris Finebine, was neither picked nor returned.

However, the APC had been strongly critical of INEC.

Mr. Finebone had earlier wondered where the commission derived the figures it quoted for the 17 local government areas it collated earlier since the collation of results was halted shortly after the election due to attendant electoral violence.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and PDP’s agent, Austin Okpara, said: “This is victory for Rivers people. The landslide victory is a true reflection of the wishes of Rivers electorate.

“All we are saying now is that its time Rivers moved away from violence and killings Dustin elections. This is the time to build and we urge all of the opposition to come join Governor Wike to further move Rivers forward.”

The AAC’s state agent, Nenye Kocha, said: “We will study the report and come up with a position. The decision of what to do next can’t be mine to determine alone. The party will sit and take a position.”

An APC chieftain reacting to the PDP’s victory, said that “Wike didn’t win this election on popularity. He won because of Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi’s overbearing over-lordship which destroyed the APC.

“Even when we had to settle for plan B, he introduced another anonymous candidate from an anonymous party. Federal might is not enough. When Wike won in 2015 with federal might, he came in strong as a candidate and canvassed well for vote.

“If APC had been cleared to fully participate in this election, the story would have been different. With our federal might and a popular candidate, we would have taken Wike to the cleaners. Everybody will suffer the consequence now,” he added.

Meanwhile, jubilation erupted in some parts of Port Harcourt as soon as the final results and declaration of Wike as governor-elect filtered into town.

Motorists and residents also heaved a sigh of relief in expectation that the tension that has engulfed Port Harcourt and the entire state would soon start calming down with the conclusion of the governorship.

However, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on his hard earned re-election.

He praised Wike for overcoming the anti-democratic forces of dictatorship and oppression in the governorship election.

Atiku said party is blessed to have a political gladiator, such as Wike, on its side, stressing that the people of Rivers State are fortunate to have a genuine progressive return to extend the frontiers of progress and development for them.

“And I am favoured to count you, Governor Wike, as my friend and brother, and Rivers State as my second home.

“As your victory is savoured by men of goodwill all over Nigeria. I am sure you will continue the pattern of good works for which you have become known.

“Nigeria needs men like you. Men who can remain firm, unbowed and resolute in the face of trying times. You have proved that you have character under trial, and not just when the going is good.

Such refinement will stand you in good stead as, by the grace of God, you finish the good work you have started in Rivers State.

“Congratulations once again and may God bless Rivers State and her people and may God bless Nigeria and Nigerians”, said the former Vice President.

Also reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described Governor Wike’s victory at the Rivers Governorship election as victory for the people of Rivers State and the triumph of good over evil.

In a statement late Wednesday night by the party’s national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP noted that Governor Wike’s record of “700,000 votes” margin of victory over the African Action Congress speaks volume of the resilience of the people of Rivers State in the face of intimidation, harassment and manipulations by oppressive forces.

The statement reads: “The victory reinforces the confidence of the people in the resoluteness of asserting their democratic choice of leadership as well as standing in defence of their mandate to the end.

“It also demonstrates that the will of the people will always prevail against every form of suppression as were eminently manifested in the desperation by the APC leaders, particularly, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to forcefully and violently take over control of the state against the wish of the people.

“The party salutes and venerates all compatriots who were killed by agents of the oppressors during the election. These compatriots did not die in vain and those who shed their innocent blood will surely be brought to book.

“The PDP commends Governor Wike, the people of Rivers State and all lovers of democracy across the board for standing firm until the very end.

“The PDP congratulates all our candidates, who won their elections at all levels across the country and assures those pursuing their stolen mandates at the tribunals that the party is fully behind them, given that they all have watertight cases at the courts.”