PDP/APC: Guber re-run not possible in Rivers-Wike tells Peterside

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has told the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 governorship election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, not to delude himself on the possibility of a rerun of the poll in the state.

Wike, who said Peterside embarked on an illegal campaign on Saturday, explained that the APC leader’s action could heat the polity.

The governor, who spoke on Tuesday through his Media Assistant, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, disclosed that his lawyers were concluding the appeal process to challenge the ruling of the Justice Suleiman Ambrosa-led Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal.

He noted that the ruling, which was premised on card reader accreditation and hearsay testimonies, had already been expunged from the tribunal’s records by the Court of Appeal.

“The defeated Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, should desist from self-deceit and unnecessary political campaigns as there will be no rerun of the governorship election in Rivers State.

“We understand the desperation of Mr. Peterside as he is merely dancing to the tunes being played by external forces who want their filthy hands on the resources of Rivers State like they did under the failed administration of Rotimi Amaechi.

“The people of Rivers State voted overwhelmingly for Governor Wike on April 11 and 12. The earlier Mr. Peterside comes to terms with this fact, the better for him and his political party.

“The use of falsehood and propaganda will not take Peterside anywhere near the Government House, Port Harcourt. Governor Wike has the mandate of the people of Rivers State and this will be reaffirmed in the appeal process.

“Governor Wike will complete his first term on May 28, 2019 as endorsed by the people of Rivers State, ordained by God, which will be reaffirmed by the appellate process.”

Reacting, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, said Wike should stop playing God, adding that the governor should allow the Appeal Court to do their work.

Finebone explained that Wike had been boasting that he (Wike) would win the governorship election even if it was held a hundred times, adding that the governor appears to be afraid of a rerun.

“If he (Wike) says that Dr. Peterside is deluding himself on the possibility of any rerun, it shows that Wike is unstable because it is the Wike that said that he would win the governorship election even if it were conducted 100 times.

“Even when his lawyers tell him (Wike) that all will go in his favour, he should know that often times, these things don’t work like that,” Finebone said.