APC to Wike: You can’t speak for the people of Rivers

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized remarks attributed to the state’s governor, Nyesom Wike, that “Rivers people will not squander their votes on the opposition especially the APC,” calling it just another attempt at face-saving.

In a statement released to reporters in Port Harcourt yesterday, the APC recommended the governor to deal with sycophants who were waiting for scraps rather than harboring the delusion that he was in charge of all Rivers voters.

In the statement, the APC’s state publicity secretary, Darlington Nwauju, said: “Rivers people will respond appropriately by rejecting the PDP next year. They are tired of the lack of accountability, disrespect for elders and our traditional chieftaincy institution, as well as the quasi-military style of governance of the state in the past seven years.

As long as he believes he has the support of all Rivers voters, the governor should accept the reality that those who surround him are merely waiting to choose their meal tickets before dumping him before the general election in February 2023.

We are really ashamed that our governor believes he can impose his will on the people of Rivers, who are the fundamental foundation of every true democracy. How will Governor Wike summon the strength to order every voter in Rivers State to cast a ballot for his party? Was it not in this state that members of his own party were detained and accused of violating the law by opposing the imposition of candidates during his party’s primary elections?

Nwauju however urged the people of Rivers to exercise caution in order to safeguard their ballots against attempts to rig the election.

He continued, “We call on Rivers people to be careful as the governor’s repeated boast of delivering Rivers votes en bloc may not be unconnected to the accusations by the election umpire, INEC, of ongoing hack-attacks on the Commission’s system.