‘We are very happy’ — Wike speaks on Edo poll

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the Edo governorship election on Saturday.

Addressing journalists at the government house in Benin, the state capital, Wike, who is the chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national campaign council for the election, said the party is satisfied with the outcome of the exercise so far.

He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the poll.

“For now, I don’t have the power to announce results, but from the reports we are getting so far from the field, I think we are happy,” Wike said.

“I want to commend INEC so far for making sure that people voted in different polling units.

“I will also commend the security agencies so far for making sure that there was no much violence and if that continues, I think it’s progress.

“Election is a process. The collation has not been done; it’s after the collation we can now give final conclusion of our appraisal. So far, I can say they ‘ve done well.

“What we are saying is that they should maintain what has happened and INEC should make sure that nobody tries to change the will of the people; that is what we are saying.

“If it’s the All Progressives Congress (APC) that wins, let it be so. If it’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that wins, let it be so. I think we are very happy with what we have now. I think we have over 2,000 polling units results now.”

The governor also called on INEC to ensure protection of its officials involved in the exercise, adding that if the commission continues on the current path, “this election will be one of the best elections we will have had in Nigeria.”

“It’s not just about voting. After voting, votes are counted and then you go for collation. This is the critical period and they should protect their collation centres, whether at the ward level, local government level or state level, so that everybody who has voted will be happy,” Wike added.

On the allegation that security operatives laid siege to his hotel room in Benin on Friday, Wike said the episode was now history.

“What happened yesterday has happened; you have seen me now, I have not left Edo,” he said.