Wike: Amaechi trying to postpone Rivers election

Nyesom Wike, gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state, has accused Rotimi Amaechi, governor of the state, of planning to delay the governorship election in Rivers till Muhammadu Buhari, the president-elect, is sworn into office.

Wike, who asked the people to resist any attempt to frustrate the poll, said nothing would stop him from emerging victorious.

He was speaking on Monday during a rally of the PDP in Port Harcourt, capital of the state.

“My brothers and sisters, Ameachi is threatening INEC commissioners, threatening the police, threatening everybody but I have told him that it will not end by threat,” he said.

“Let me tell you why the governor is ranting, it is because he was defeated. He has told his people in Abuja that he will deliver; unfortunately, he did not vote and so you see him running helter-skelter.

“Let me tell you their strategy. They don’t want this election to be conducted; they want to cause problem on the day of election and when Buhari is sworn in, then they will conduct the election but this election must be conducted on Saturday and it must be free and fair.

“We have won them before and we will continue to win them. No problem if they choose to go to the tribunal, but let us win first and we will meet him at the tribunal. So I can tell you go home and sleep well with your two eyes closed, we will win election again.”

Wike encouraged the people not to be intimidated, saying that all the plans of the APC would amount to nothing in the state.

“Some of you have sent me text messages that they are threatening you with police; I have told you this: nobody will stop us from winning this election on Saturday,” he said.

“I tell because some of you will say they are in charge of security. They can be in charge of anything, they will not win the election, because you must have people to rig. So let let Ameachi bring people; let them come and rig us out. They will rig their life.

“If Ameachi likes, he can mobilise as much as he wants. They should not end in INEC Abuja, they should go to United Nations and bring secretary-general of the United Nations to come and conduct the election. Ameachi and his party will fail.

“If Ameachi likes, let him sleep at INEC office or even bring Jega to conduct the election, APC will fail. Let me now send signal and warning to them. If you mobilise your people again to stop the electoral process, we will mobilise you out of this place. This is a warning to APC.

He further alleged that the APC was looking for all means possible to win some states, including Rivers in the forthcoming election.

“Last week the national publicity secretary of APC, Lai Mohammed, invited journalists and told them that they should help them to win Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Lagos.

“I told Lai Muhammed, Rivers is not Kwara. If you are looking for the peoples’, money you will no longer see it in Rivers.

“We will now use Rivers money to develop our state and so if you make a mistake to vote for APC, they will continue to use our money.”