Ganduje: Free and fair election not normal in south-south

Umar Ganduje, governor of Kano state and chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers rerun election campaign, says free and fair elections are not normal in the south-south region of the country.

Speaking with state house correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja, on Friday, the governor said measures were being put in place to ensure that the rerun election, which is scheduled for December 10, is free and fair.

Three senatorial seats, eight house of representatives seats and 16 state house of assembly positions will be contested for in the election.

“We are prepared, we just came out of the Ondo elections; we have fresh ideas even though both environments are different but we have our own strategies,”Ganduje said when asked if his team was prepared for the election.

“Like in Ondo state, we must ensure we have free and fair elections. You know in that part of the country, having free and fair elections is not normal and we have to make it normal this time.

“We must ensure that there is security so that people will come out and vote. That is our main preoccupation at the moment. We are making wider consultations with stakeholders and we believe we will succeed.”
‎
Reacting to Ganduje’s statement, Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, described it as “unfortunate” and taunted the governor to do the magic he did in Kano state in his state.

“It is unfortunate if he said so. As far as I am concerned, elections have been normal in my part of the country. All we are asking for is free and fair election,” Wike said.

“Is Governor Ganduje speaking on behalf of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)? Is he the one conducting the elections now? I have a respect for him as an elderly person but his statement is unfortunate.

“When his friend won the governorship election in Rivers state, the election was normal. The election was also normal in Edo state where his party won. We are waiting for him to come and perform the magic he did in Kano state.”