Real reason INEC continues to postpone Rivers rerun –Gov Wike

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike at the weekend took a swipe at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its failure to conduct the rerun election in the state.

INEC had in September, after being unable to keep to its earlier promise, said it will conduct the rerun election in Rivers State at no particular date in October.

The governor, however alleged that the INEC’s continuous postponement of the rerun elections in the state was a conspiracy by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to mastermind its plan to completely take over Rivers State.

The governor who stated this at the weekend, during a state dinner for delegates of the West African Architects Fair from 13 countries, added that non-conclusion of rerun elections in Rivers was due to a grand conspiracy to rig the polls in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Wike saddened that the commission was unable to keep its promise again, accused the body of being able to conduct elections in war torn states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe in the North-East but not in Rivers State.

“Election took place in Borno , election took place in Yobe, election took place in Adamawa where you have deadly insurgency . They were able to conduct elections and votes were counted. They were able to conduct election in Sambisa forest and votes were counted, but they cannot conduct election here in Rivers State, “ he said

“Because people want to illegally seize power in Rivers State, that is why you are hearing all this. All this plot is to take
Rivers State. Why do you want to take Rivers State when it is not your own?

”Between March 19th and now, they planned to do elections so
that they can get the number of seats to impeach me and put their own man. Since March, everyday they postpone the elections. From May to June to July, August then September. They said October ending, still no election. Now, they say 10th of December and when we get to 10th of December, they may shift it to next year,” Wike said.

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According to the governor, INEC by not carrying out the rerun election have continued to deny the state representation in the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“They continue to postpone the elections in Rivers State. The Senate will be discussing the Petroleum Industry Bill, they will be having the constitutional amendment and the state that produces the oil has no senator and cannot be part of the
discussion. Nobody will defend Rivers State in the Senate. Nigerians are not worried. Why? Rivers is a minority state,” he said.

Wike added that deliberate anti-development programmes have been targeted against Rivers State but said the state has successfully overcome those plots.

He said, “We are the only state that applied for bail out, but they did not give to us. We are the only state where they started deducting our funds, when a loan facility has not been given to us, he lamented.

By Ebere Ndukwu . . .

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