Rivers Rerun: Nobody Can Impose Representatives on Rivers People, Says Wike 

Rivers State Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike,  has declared  that the state is too big for anybody to impose representatives on  the  people, stressing  that the people must be allowed to elect their representatives. 

Speaking during a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dedication service for the commencement campaign for the 2016 re-run elections in the state at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike urged the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC) to be neutral  in the course of the rerun  election to ensure that the will of the people  prevails. 

He said: “This election  would prove whether INEC  is ready to conduct free and fair elections  in Nigeria. “

The governor  noted that the PDP  remains committed to violence-free elections, pointing out that the opponents of PDP  should play within the rules of engagement.

“What  causes violence during  election is when the umpire wants to manipulate , rig or write results. We will resist any attempt to write results.

“PDP  will not be involved in anything violent, but we will  not allow  anyone to steal our votes.  We will  protect our votes and make that the people’s  mandate  is declared,” he said.

The governor  explained  that the  PDP  was dedicating its forthcoming  campaigns  for the rerun  elections to God because the party relies on God for victories.

He noted that the PDP was sure of victory  at the rerun  polls because of the massive  achievements of his administration  in the last  17 months. 

The dedication service  for the flag off  of the campaign for  the rerun  elections  was attended by Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, state and National Assembly members, political leaders of the state, commissioners, local government chairmen, women and youth groups.

Venerable John Adubasim of the Saint Paul’s Anglican Church while dedicating  the PDP campaigns for the rerun elections  to God, asked members of the party to trust in the Lord for their sustenance and victory. 

Earlier yesterday, the governor worshipped at the Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo Deanery during  the church’s 2016 Annual Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Speaking there, he said his administration  would fight crime across  all communities.  He however, warned against the politicisation  of crime.

He said anyone caught  committing crime  while  be made  to  face the weight  of  the  law.