The governorship candidate of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11, last year election, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, and some leaders of the party yesterday came under attack in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
Peterside, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), was riding in a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with his former deputy, Asita Honourable and APC Chairman Daview Ikanya when they came under fire
Peterside’s Special Assistant (Media) Sylvester Asoya, in a statement last night, said his boss and other APC leaders escaped assassins’ bullets by a stroke of luck.
Governor Nyesom Wike’s Chief of Staff Emeka Woke was arrested over the attack. But Wike said Woke’s driver was killed.
Peterside said his vehicle was attacked by gunmen in two SUVs as they approached the city from the Port Harcourt International Airport. His orderly Emma Esi was said to have been hit in the leg.
Peterside said: “Two jeeps belonging to Emeka Woke, Nyesom Wike’s Chief of Staff, carrying two unknown gunmen, trailed us to UTC Junction (near Government House, Port Harcourt) and opened fire on my car. Our car, however, did a detour to the DSS (Department of State Services) office gate, where we drove to seek refuge, but the unknown gunmen opened fire again at the DSS men on guard.
“The exchange of fire between the DSS men and the assailants lasted for more than 30 minutes. This is a very ugly experience, but I thank God that my colleagues and I escaped unhurt.”
“Today’s (yesterday’s) experience is not only terrifying, but also shows the parlous state of security in Rivers State. If I can be engaged openly by gunmen for nearly an hour in the heart of Port Harcourt, only God knows the fate that will befall members of our party and those sympathetic to our predicament. What is happening today in our dear state is not only horrible, but also constitutes serious national security risk.”
The NIMASA boss, who was Wike’s opponent in last year’s governorship election, also stated that it was now evident that the governor wanted to kill him and that he (Wike) was prepared to do everything possible to eliminate him.
Woke was last night arrested ostensibly to explain his role in the alleged attempt to shoot at Peterside’s convoy, in front of the office of the DSS on Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.
Peterside’s driver had driven into the DSS’s office but Woke and the two gunmen with him were not deterred.
The armed men allegedly continued to shoot at the DSS men.
Governor Wike accused Peterside and Asita of hijacking results from Isiokpo in Ikwere Local government yesterday.
The governor added that Peterside and his security detail opened fire and killed the driver to his Chief of Staff, Mr Emeka Woke.
Speaking to reporters at the Government House, he said: “Remember I warned that today’ s Nigeria is not yesterday’s Nigeria. Things that were done wrongly before cannot be done wrongly now. I warned that the people will resist any attempt to rig.
“Now they have the Federal might, army, police, INEC and DSS, but we have the people.”
Wike condemned what he called the desperation of some politicians to win the Assembly elections at all cost.
Wike said: “The driver to my chief of staff has been shot to death this evening, including others who were killed on election day. I am surprised to see the kind of desperation displayed by some politicians in this rerun election.
”I saw the military acting as if Rivers State is at war. I saw those working with me being harassed and arrested. My SSG, Commissioner for Environment Prof. Roseline Konya and some PDP members were arrested and manhandled.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, has dismissed rumours of a brewing crisis among its ranks, declaring that the party remains focused and united more than ever, as none of its leaders is fighting with another. The party specifically declared that there is no iota of truth in the rumour of disaffection between its governorship candidate in the 2015 election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari.
Ibim Semenitari
“This satanic rumour originated and being spread by the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a wicked lie from the pit of hell and has no foundation whatsoever. We urge our teeming members and
supporters, as well as the good people of Rivers State and the general public to totally ignore it as it is a desperate strategy by the floundering PDP to shore up its image ahead of the forthcoming Assembly re-run elections, for which PDP has become jittery because of the imminent defeat staring it in the face,” Rivers APC said in a statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
The statement issued Friday in Port Harcourt laughed off the unintelligent attempt by Rivers PDP to blackmail Mrs. Semenitari for accompanying the visiting Senate delegation to the Niger Delta on a courtesy visit to
Governor Nyesom Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday. “How can the performance of a simple official duty by the Acting NDDC Managing Director amount to disloyalty to APC and a fictional quarrel with Dr. Peterside over the 2019 governorship ticket?” Rivers APC asked. “Many of the Distinguished Senators whom Mrs. Semenitari escorted to the Government House to see Governor Nyesom Wike are also APC members, so does their visit mean that they are also disloyal to the APC?” the statement asked.
It dismissed the rumour as a poor hatchet job by Wike and PDP’s propaganda team to cause disaffection among the Rivers APC leadership, adding, however: “This plot is dead on arrival because we are too intelligent and
too close-knit a family to be deceived by such a fallacious and wicked falsehood intended to distract us from the urgent task of winning the forthcoming State and National Assembly re-run elections.
“Mrs. Semenitari is an accomplished administrator who knows where to draw the line between her official duties and politics. As head of NDDC, she has a statutory role that covers the six states of South-South that includes
Rivers State plus the two states of Abia and Imo in the South-East and Ondo State in the South-West. The Senate is probing the 16 years of NDDC and if the investigating Senators are to visit the Rivers State Governor on issues
pertaining to NDDC, are we saying that the Acting NDDC MD should not accompany them because she is an APC chieftain even while most of the Senate Committee members are also APC members?
“For the avoidance of doubt, Rivers State APC Leadership, including Dr. Peterside, is happy with Mrs. Semenitari and proud of her, as her commitment and loyalty to the APC cause has never been in doubt. She has been one of the arrow heads of this struggle and one of the most persecuted among us. As a matter of fact, she was the only one invited to appear before the then dreaded National Security Adviser to erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan when the heat was on us at Rivers State. Apart from this, she was one of our Principals targeted to be assassinated by the PDP hoodlums at the Okirika rally attack. Her house in Port Harcourt was attacked immediately Wike took over as Governor and her personal jeep towed away by the Wike regime just to publicly disgrace her. So if anybody is trying to blackmail her for any reason such a person is embarking on a mission impossible.
“It is worth stressing that we have no Dakuku faction or any faction or factions but one united, compact, virile and vibrant Rivers APC under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. As for the purported intrigues about 2019, that does not deserve any attention because it just does not make sense as we cannot start talking about 2019 when we have not concluded the 2015 elections.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the April 2015 governorship election in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside has maintained his position that the process that brought Governor Nyesom Wike to power was never an election but a bloodbath.
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
Peterside said he and his party were strongly convinced that if there was a free and fair election, he would have emerged victorious.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with THISDAY on Wednesday, Peterside said though he has accepted the Supreme Court verdict but “those who rode on peoples’ blood to power will never have peace.”
While responding to a statement made by Wike that APC could not substantiate claims of fraudulent conduct during the Rivers governorship election, Peterside said based on the collaborated evidences of witnesses at the courts, there was every reason to believe that no proper election actually took place.
He said the governor’s ignorance of what transpired at the courts was understandable because he never attended any of the sittings.
“I have not had cause to criticise that judgement of the Supreme Court because of my principle and standards. The highest court in the land has made its decision and I stand with them on the decision.
“Even those who won in the Supreme Court know that there was no election. When they sit back in their private moments, they will know that they are simply riding to power on the blood of people, on the graves of people and that they can never have peace.
“I wish they will have peace but the way nature acts, nature rewards you based on your deeds and so if you killed, if you spill blood, if you celebrate victory tainted with blood, you will never go scot free. It is a matter of time. Nature will catch up with them.”
Peterside who spoke on the botched expectations of the APC for a power shift to the minority area, said both him and the party were quite convinced that in a free and fair election, he would emerge victorious.
“But unfortunately, we didn’t have an election talk more of a free and fair one. We simply had a blood bath and so no one can say whether my candidacy would have been an advantage or disadvantage to the party. But I know that my candidacy was widely accepted in Rivers State because I represent three important things firstly; power shift to another side of the state.
“Rivers state is multi ethnic. Ikwere isn’t the only ethnic group. There are many major ethnic groups and there are other ethnic groups too in the state. My candidature represented a change in senatorial district, change in the geo-political divide of the riverine upland and represented those who believed one could lead where men and women of character, men and women who had a vision and men and women who would use power for good and all those who believed in all these things were solidly behind my candidature.
On reports of his criticism of the Supreme Court judgement, Dakuku said: “I have said I do not have capacity to join issues with Supreme Court. So, I will not comment on the judgement. However there are things to note: the Supreme Court earlier backed the relocation of the tribunal from Port Harcourt to Abuja on the grounds that there was violence before, during and after the elections in Rivers State. But the same court now said there was no violence in Rivers State.
“The Chief Justice of Nigeria before the commencement of the tribunals warned against dealing with technicalities; against substantive justice in election matters yet the Rivers State matter was ultimately decided on technicalities. Supreme Court said you need to bring voters from all 4442 units in Rivers state in a space of 30 or maximum of 60 days that the case lasted to prove irregularities. So, even if 20 percent of the people were denied opportunity to vote, it is of no consequence and that INEC do not have power to make its own regulations; thus card reader is alien to law. These are some of the issues that the judgement may have thrown up. Ultimately, I am scared we may be on reverse gear in election management and electoral integrity.
“There are minimal qualities expected of a Governor and of anybody who want to serve in that capacity. What we have in Rivers state today is a state on reverse gear and it will not do anybody any good. We must sit back and ask ourselves fundamental questions about the future of our state.
Today, 18th February, 2016, the Rivers APC in a brief ceremony at her State Secretariat in Port Harcourt marked the anniversary of the failed plot to assassinate her amiable gubernatorial Candidate in the 2015 general elections, Dr Dakuku Adol Peterside.
APC data Centre
This unwarranted devilish attack that claimed the life of one Police man, Corporal Ifeanyi Okorie was unleashed on the hapless APC supporters during the ill-fated Okirika rally principally to eliminate Dr Peterside and massacre all the principal APC Chieftains but their lives was secured only by the grace of God.
The horrifying experience that was beamed live to the entire world by the Channels TV in which its reporter, Charles Eruka narrowly escaped death as he was wounded with bullet shot still remains us of the major legacy of the then PDP Government led by Dr Jonathan.
The rally in Okirika held on the 18th, February, 2015 amidst multiple explosions and shootings which destroyed parts of the school buildings was earlier aborted on two attempts will never be forgotten by political watchers in Nigeria. Okirika is the home Local Government of the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and former warlord, Chief Ateke Tom
Rivers APC in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and issued Thursday in Port Harcourt stated that, “Today marks one year we survived massive gunfire attack at Okrika, Rivers State of Nigeria during a rally in which Cars, Stage rally and sound equipment were burnt and stolen. A police man by name, Ifeanyi Okorie who struggled to get us out to safety was murdered by the PDP agents with many of our members wounded. How our gubernatorial candidate, Dr Dakuku Peterside and APC chieftains marked for elimination on that day managed to survive the onslaught still remain a mystery to most of us. As we thank God for securing our lives, we pray that such a plot against our people will never see the light of the day again”
The above notwithstanding, our members are still being viciously attacked and slaughtered almost on daily basis as 29 APC members were killed in one day at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) just few days ago 15th February, 2016 to be specific with the Security organs watching hopelessly. We know that the only major mission and vision of the PDP Government in Rivers State is to destroy the legacies of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and decimate the APC Chieftains but what makes the situation more pathetic is that security agencies in Rivers State, including the police and the Department of State Security (DSS), have failed to make any arrest or call the PDP leadership to order for reasons we can’t fathom”
Finally, the Okirika episode and the killing of one hundred APC members by the PDP agents during the 2015 general elections in the wisdom of the Supreme Court Judges does not warrant the cancellation of the 2015 gubernatorial election condemned by both Local and International Observers.
The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, said its attention has been drawn to a press statement by the R/S PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah titled, “Dakuku’s Attack On Odili, Height Of Frustration, Rascality – Rivers PDP Chairman.”
The R/S APC in a press statement signed by its spokesman Mr. Chris Finebone unequivocally stated that Dr. Dakuku Peterside DID NOT, for all intents and purposes, insult the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili as canvassed in Felix Obuah’s press statement, adding, “Dr. Peterside did not, and still does not, have any reasons to insult or show disrespect under any circumstances whatsoever to the former governor of Rivers State, his wife and, indeed, anyone.”
The APC noted that the issue in question is a mere verbatim reference Dr. Peterside made to the public statement of Gov. Nyesom Wike at a church thanksgiving service where he said: “Let me thank our former governor, Dr. Peter Odili [husband of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili]. He will call me midnight to tell me what to do….he will say ‘go so so place.’ I took all his advice, and here we are today.” These were the words of Gov. Nyesom Wike. Dr. Dakuku Peterside merely quoted the governor and then concluded his reference to the governor’s speech by saying: “This shocking confession needs no further explanation except for you and other decent Nigerians to further make your fair conclusions.”
The APC asked Felix Obuah and the PDP: Where lies the insult on Dr. Peter Odili and his wife in the reference Dr. Peterside made to Gov. Wike’s public comment?, maintaining that “indeed, if anyone indirectly insulted the former governor and his wife, it is Gov. Nyesom Wike because of his unwarranted verbal incontinence, drunken boasts and dropping of names of the former governor and his wife while holding discussions with his associates. Some of these same associates of Gov. Nyesom Wike, in turn, take the names dropped by the Governor to public space with its attendant negative perception.”
The R/S APC urged Felix Obuah and the PDP to compel Gov Wike to apologise to Dr. Peter Odili and Justice Mary Odili for woefully failing to exercise discretion in his public utterances and needlessly dropping their names while holding formal and informal discussions with friends and associates.
The APC assured former Governor Peter Odili and Justice Mary Odili that despite differences in political affiliation, the leadership and supporters of its party will continue to hold them in high esteem as eminent citizens and one time first family of our dear State for 8 years, adding, we believe that nothing can take that away from history.
“We urge Felix Obuah, Jerry Needam and their ilk to strive to exhibit maturity and grasp of age-old hallowed principles in statecraft and politics by not painting every political issue in the only colours known to them – motor-park colours”, the statement advised.
Despite the glamour that characterizes the game of politics, it still has a bitter side no doubt.
This bitter side or better put, are the pains and regrets that follow losing the election.
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
Of course, nobody goes into any election to lose but one thing is certain. There must be a loser no matter the degree of optimism.
While the winner smiles home with victory, the loser shies away like an accused sentenced for a guilt never committed.
The winner however, is expected to be magnanimous in victory while the loser notwithstanding the pain of his loss is expected to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship since there is always a second chance or another opportunity.
But this is totally different of some persons particularly, the 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dakuku Peterside who seems to play to the contrary.
The Peoples Democratic in Rivers State has accused Dakuku Peterside of going berserk since January 27 Supreme Court Judgement that upheld the election of Goernor Nyesom Wike as the true reflection of the April 11, 2015 voting in the State.
PDP said ” Dakuku Peterside, perhaps, yet to recover from the nightmare of occupying an office he has no capacity to direct, an illusion placed on him by no other than his godfather, an equally deluded Chibuike Amaechi, without recourse to commonsense has continued to castigate the executive governor of the State, Chief Barr Nyesom Wike, calling him all manner of names as though we live in a lawless society.”
Peterside had before now describe Governor Wike as infantile
Peterside on Tuesday, February 09, 2016 at a press conference in APC State Secretariat made allegations against the person of the Governor and quoting an alleged utterances of Wike.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the only reason for all this is to incite the innocent admirers and supporters of the people’s governor including the presidency and no few members of the APC who are impressed with Wike’s marvelous developmental strives in so short a time against him.
“It’s also shocking that Dakuku Peterside who had earlier applauded the Nigerian judiciary as worthy of its name, respect and pride of place accorded it is now castigating the Supreme Court as parading conscienceless people who trade on justice for monetary gains (see his press statement at the conference).
“Dakuku Peterside whose moral bankruptcy is common knowledge in the State with unmentionable nauseating recent past also has the effrontery to insult and despise the former State Governor (Golden) Sir Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, Honourable Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court.
“Exposing his shallow-mindedness, Mr Dakuku Peterside could not remember when he boasted on January 7, 2016, 20 days before the Supreme Court Judgment that there would be a tsunami in the State very soon, over the Supreme Court expected judgment, while celebrating the nullification of some PDP members of the National Assembly and the order for re-run elections for those offices perhaps, thinking same fate will befall Gov Wike. This is most unfortunate.
“We have feigned ignorance of Dakuku Peterside’s ranting, disrespect for constituted authorities and unbridled lawlessness simply because we thought he was yet to recover from the shock of having been deceived by Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who used him to create the impression that APC was alive in the State and on account of which he was rewarded with an underserved appointment as a minister.
“But it has been established that Dakuku Peterside is hell-bent on causing disaffection and crisis in the State by trading on outright lies, propaganda and blackmail. This is dangerous politicking.
“We therefore want to warn this political neophyte, Dakuku Peterside to caution himself, tread softly on the path of respect for the rule of law, civility and rectitude or be treated like a tout and political jobber he is.
“Even if, without conceding, Governor Wike had described election riggers as common criminals that deserve no better treatment than other criminals, what is wrong with that honest statement except if Dakuku Peterside is one and rather than be handled as a criminal wishes to be applauded and pampered like a king but God forbid.
“He is therefore warned for the last time to show some decorum and stop insulting the office of the Governor as the PDP and the authorities will not and cannot continue to watch him despise the sacrosanctity of that office.
A word, they say is enough for the wise.
Read below Dakuku Peterside full statement:
Gentlemen of the Press,
Introduction
Nyesom Wike
You will recall that on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 the Nigerian Supreme Court handed down judgment on the Rivers State Governorship matter. In that judgment, the apex court upheld the appeal by Gov. Nyesom Wike against the earlier decisions by the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court which concurrently annulled Nyesom Wike’s election as governor.
Nyesom Wike’s Unbecoming Threat to INEC, Others Consequent upon the judgment by the Supreme Court, I, the APC Governorship Candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, despite receiving the judgment with mixed feelings, came out to publicly announce my unreserved acceptance of the verdict. However, a few days later, the Governor, while addressing Civil Servants in Port Harcourt exhibited unconscionable indiscretion of the highest order by re-echoing his earlier incendiary statements threatening INEC personnel with death over the forthcoming National and State Assemblies rerun elections. He said, “Anyone who plans to rig an election is an armed robber and should be treated as such. If you are coming to rig an election in the state, first prepare your will before embarking on the journey. Inform your wife or husband and go ahead to say your last prayer.”
The above statement by Gov. Nyesom Wike confirms his earlier threat last December while commenting on the rerun elections in Rivers State. Then he had stated, “We are not afraid of any re-run at all. But we have always said if they said there should be a re-run, let it be a re-run and not to write the result. Let them bring anybody as INEC official from anywhere that wants to be funny, I wish the person must have written his Will before he comes.”
This is the most callous statement anyone can make, much more a state governor. It is a known fact that Wike promotes violence and believes so much in jungle justice but he forgets that such outlook does not have any place in a civilized society.
Wike’s Shocking Revelation on the Supreme Court Judgment
Despite my acceptance and temperate public comments on the verdict of the Supreme Court on the 27th of January, 2016 Gov. Nyesom Wike, by his unguarded utterance last Sunday, seems to give credence to the pervading doubt being expressed on the judgment in public space especially in the media. Many a Nigerian continues to wonder why PDP and Gov. Wike’s supporters went on wild celebration across Rivers State as early as 9am on the Day of Judgment even if the actual verdict was handed down at about 6:20pm of that day. It clearly suggests that they might have been in the know of what the judgment would be long before the Supreme Court pronounced it. This is coupled with several comments especially on the social media some 3 weeks earlier such as “Thank God there will now be no need for a rerun election….. It is surely ending at the Supreme Court,” etc. etc.
Credible information confirmed that Nyesom Wike had earlier confessed to some persons of having met one of the Justices of the Supreme Court in Mbaise during an important burial, another at Owerri in a hotel and yet others in Dubai and Saudi Arabia respectively. These Justices were in the panel that decided the matter in Wike’s favour.
However, the most striking revelation by Nyesom Wike is contained in his account at the thanksgiving service last Sunday. He obviously stunned his audience and the watching world when he confessed that when it came to the Judges, Dr. Peter Odili and the wife Justice Mary Odili [a Justice of the Supreme Court] were his advisers. This simply confirmed his earlier statements that he had contact with the Justices after several attempts to reach the Chief Justice of the country failed. It is therefore obvious that the decision of the Supreme Court on the Rivers State Election was not a product of justice but rather a product of compromise and orchestrated contrivance to legalise electoral violence and rigging and, in turn, reward injustice. This calls for serious introspection by our Judiciary and judicial officers.
For the records, in his speech at the church service, Gov. Nyesom Wike probably forgot that he was on live telecast when he stated: “Let me thank our former governor, Dr. Peter Odili [husband of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili]. He will call me midnight to tell me what to do….he will say ‘go so so place.’ I took all his advice, and here we are today.” This shocking confession needs no further explanation except for you and other decent Nigerians to further make your fair conclusions.
Threat of Blood Flowing Were There to Be a Governorship Rerun Election
Still speaking at the thanksgiving service, Nyesom Wike said that he would not have given up if the verdict did not end in his favour. He said that through the ruling, the apex court helped in preventing bloodshed in Rivers State.
Hear him: “Blood would have flowed if the election was going to hold again….So, I called some people including the Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, that I was not going to run again. They said why and I explained that if I did, many people would die.”
These voluntary confessions made by Gov. Nyesom Wike confirm beyond doubt that Nyesom Wike was obviously behind the orgy of violence during the last elections. He funded and sponsored it. Juxtaposed with his recent threats, it is obvious Nyesom Wike thinks he can dare the state and people of Rivers state and will always get away with reward of visiting violence on innocent people.
Wike Must Stop Insulting Mr President and Denigrating the Nigerian Military
Continuing on his verbal incontinence at the church service, Nyesom Wike lampooned President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian military. He dared President Buhari thus: “If you like bring your Boko Haram soldiers to Rivers State, I will enter INEC office on Election Day [National and State Assembly rerun elections), let me see who will push me out.”
This kind of statement typifies the persona of Gov. Nyesom Wike as someone lacking in respect, patriotism and character of being a councillor much more a state governor in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Let me draw the attention of Nyesom Wike to the fact that it is most callous of him to demonstrate such level of denigration on the gallant officers and men of the Nigerian military who are putting their lives at risk every other day to safeguard the Nigeria state and citizens when he referred to them as Boko Haram soldiers. I vehemently condemn such display of verbal indiscretion against Mr. President and the Nigerian military.
It is noteworthy that Gov. Nyesom Wike has vowed to fight corruption his own way than support the anti-graft campaign of the Buhari administration. According to Wike, We would not support the fight against corruption; we would not take anybody to the EFCC because I know what would happen.”
Gentlemen of the press, I decided to bring these unfolding events to the attention of Rivers people, Nigerians and the world through you so that the grim situation starring us in the face in Rivers State under the administration of Chief Nyesom Wike can be better be understood by all. I thank you for your attention.
THE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State during the 2015 general elections, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, on Thursday said the Peoples Democratic Party in the state would suffer “a political tsunami” in the next 31 days.
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
Peterside, who made a veiled reference to his case against the election of the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, told his supporters to get ready for a rerun of the governorship poll in the state.
The APC governorship candidate in the general elections spoke at the state party secretariat during the celebration of his birthday and that of Mr. Honorable Asita, his running mate in the 2015 governorship election.
Peterside pointed out that the days of manipulation of election results were over, maintaining that the people of the state would vote according to their conscience.
Both Peterside and Asita share the same birthday (December 31).
Explaining that he was humbled by the crowd that came to congratulate him and Asita on their birthday, Peterside added that the APC in the state was not afraid of any rerun.
He said, “I am telling you today that we will reclaim our stolen mandate. Believe me, in the next 31 days, a tsunami will visit the Rivers State PDP.
“We are not afraid if there is a rerun today in Rivers State. We look out for the best; we will look out for change in infrastructure development and change in empowerment.
“If you put the candidates of the major political parties and their manifestos side by side, definitely the people will go for a man of character, a reliable candidate that can realise the dream of our founding fathers.
“People will also look out for the make-up of our team; we do not have a team that is populated by militants and killers. The electorate will go for a team that has people with good character, a team that can make Rivers people to be a stakeholder in the governance of the state.”
Peterside later received over 120 defectors from the PDP led by a former governorship aspirant, Bekinbo Soberikon, and urged them to tell their friends to join the APC’s moving train.
Reacting, the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, said the people of the state would not allow the set of people that brought Rivers to its knees economically back in power.
Nwanosike described Peterside’s claim that a political tsunami would soon hit the PDP as an indication that the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 governorship election was only trying the will of the people, adding that he (Peterside) and his cohorts would be disappointed.
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State has hailed today’s verdict of the Appeal Court endorsing the earlier judgement of the Rivers Elections Petitions Tribunal on the nullification of April Rivers State governorship election.
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
Reacting to the judgement, Peterside praised the Nigerian judiciary for its courage and efforts towards deepening the nation’s democracy and political process.
According to him, the judiciary will be remembered for standing tall even in the face of unwarranted provocation and vilification by those who brazenly stole the peoples’ mandate during the March and April elections in Rivers State.
He also congratulated the people of Rivers State for their patience and understanding especially in view of the painful process of reclaiming their mandate.
“I am happy that the Nigerian judiciary is rekindling hope in our electoral process and in our country generally. This is so because the judiciary is sending the right signal, particularly to those who perpetrate violence and fraud during elections.
“Never again will a peoples’ mandate be subverted so viciously by a violent and self-seeking few, all in the name of political contest. Members of our party and supporters were murdered in cold blood in their homes and campaign grounds for their political beliefs. We are happy that this injustice is currently being addressed by a credible
institution like the judiciary.
“We pray never to experience the level of persecution, violence and deaths that characterised both the March and April elections in our state. Democracy is about freedom, equality and justice; so everybody must join hands to defend it at all times.
“I therefore wish to dedicate our victories in the legislative and executive arms to our fallen brothers and sisters, our supporters and the entire Rivers people for believing in us and for keeping faith.
“Our state will be great again if and only when we vote into public office, our sons and daughters who will not bring shame to us by their words and actions.
“We, members of the APC know the needs of our people as we fully appreciate the leadership crisis rocking our state today. You have sacrificed and waited all these agonizing months for justice. Now, justice has come. I commend you and urge you to hold on a little more as we all march collectively towards entrenching the kind of
leadership that would serve our overall interest irrespective of our political persuasions.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has urged the good people of the State to remain calm and law abiding in the face of what it described as “obvious gang-up” by the All Progressives Congress, APC led Federal Government against duly elected Governor of the State, Barr. Nyesom Wike and other elected lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, using some Justices of the Court of Appeal as willing tools to invalidate their elections.
Reacting to the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja today, the State Chairman of the PDP, Bro Felix Obuah enjoins members of the Party and Rivers People to remain law abiding assuring that “Governor Nyesom wike remains the Governor of Rivers State and the PDP would challenge the decision of the Appeal Court in Supreme Court.”
According to Bro Obuah, Mr Dakuku Peterside, 24 hours before the Appeal Court judgement, as he also did in the judgement of the Appeal Court on the National Assembly elections, had announced the date of the judgement and further declared that the APC will win, suggesting that he was in contact with the Justices of the Court of Appeal.
The PDP noted that they still hold the Judiciary in high esteemed and strongly believe that not all judicial officers can be compromised, adding that they will be heading to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement of the Appeal Court today.
The PDP further assured their members and the good people of Rivers State, that Barr. Nyesom Wike remains the Governor of Rivers State as the PDP would take advantage of the provisions of the law to challenge the decision of the Appeal Court, in the Supreme Court.
Bro Obuah further assured that Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP would emerge victorious at the end of the day.
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State has commended the verdict of the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja which sacked National Assembly members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
The APC chieftain who spoke shortly after the announcement described the judgement as victory, not only for the long-suffering people of Rivers State but also for those who voted at the March and April elections.
Peterside in a press statement signed by Sylvester Asoya, his Special Assistant on Media and available to NF-Reports, said truth, which is essential in the quest for justice has prevailed.
He contended that the actions of the erudite Justices of the Appeal Court are demonstrative of a new Nigeria where a few will no longer stifle the voices and collective decision of the majority.
He also wondered why Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is still living in self-denial even as their ignoble actions during the elections are well known across Nigeria and beyond.
“I know that everybody in Rivers State, including our opponents in the last general elections expected these sweeping judgements because we were all witnesses to the widespread violence and irregularities that marred the various elections.
“As a party and law abiding citizens, we are happy that at last, light has overshadowed darkness, and this in itself is encouraging. Although the journey has been winding and most painful but we have remained steadfast knowing full well that at all times, truth will always take the limelight over lies and evil, no matter how hard human beings try. Therefore these landmark judgements are vindicating and heartening.
“For our opponents, I wish to counsel them to quickly come to terms with the new reality which intensely abhors electoral violence and fraud. No society can make progress in an atmosphere of brute force, violence, ignorance, intolerance, intimidation and all the vices our rivals employed and exhibited before and during the elections. As a people, we must strive to remain civil and accommodating of other views no matter our position for that is the only way to support the growth and sustenance of democracy and liberty.
“Therefore as we prepare for the impending but crucial re-run elections across our dear state, I call on our people to remember that Rivers, like other states in Nigeria, deserves the very best of representation. We cannot afford to support candidates who are evidently lacking in capacity and in all the necessary tools needed in modern day governance. God bless Rivers State!”
All Progressives Congress APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside has described the late Eze Egi of Egiland in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Kingdom Elemchukwu Elenwa as an epitome of courage, peace and justice.
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
Peterside made the remarks yesterday at the burial ceremonies of the late king at Akabuka in Egi kingdom.
According to the APC chieftain, these virtues of fairness, impartiality and fearlessness characterized the royal life of the Eze during his reign.
He said the passage of the respected king is a loss, not only to Egi people but also to Rivers State and all lovers of peace and justice all over the world.
The late Eze Elenwa, Dr Peterside added, spent most of his time on the throne fighting for the good of his people. “He lived sacrificially and believed that justice and peace must go hand in hand. Today, he is remembered and appreciated for leaving a lasting legacy”.
He therefore charged the people of Egi not to despair but to remain united and to always be guided by truth, love for one another, desire for unity and all the good things that the late king stood for.
The burial ceremony of the late monarch was attended by people from all walks of life including the representative of Rivers state Governor, Hon. EMMA Okah, Chief Godpower Ake, Hon. Honourable Asita, APC Deputy Governorship candidate, among others.
In his remarks, Chief G U Ake paid glowing tribute to the late monarch whom he described as a man that was not afraid of anything except God. He said the late monarch during his life time, was ready to pay any sacrifice for truth, justice and peace. Ake rounded off his speech by publicly acknowledging former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for giving fulfilment to the several decades struggle of the Egi People.
The Grassroots Development Initiative, a group sponsored by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has disagreed with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 governorship election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, over claims that only 10 kilometres of road were rehabilitated in the state within the past six months.
Nyesom Wike
Peterside had claimed that the roads rehabilitated by the governor were not commensurate to the N30billion taken by the current administration as loan, adding that the cost of road reconstructed by Wike’s government was not more than N3billion.
But the Secretary-General of the GDI, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, dismissed Peterside’s claim, saying contrary to the APC governorship candidate’s position, Wike had worked on over 70 kilometres of dilapidated roads in the state.
Nwanosike, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Thursday, expressed dissatisfaction over the comment by Peterside and noted that his comments could cause crisis in the state.
“A few days ago, we heard a very disappointing statement from Dr. Dakuku Peterside who told the public that he did send out people to go and investigate the work done on the road infrastructure by the state government.
“He (Peterside) said the report brought to him was that the work done by Barrister Nyesom Wike is about 10 kilometres of road. We are here to set the records straight. It is very important to note that when men who are gunning for the highest office in the land come out to misinform the public, they should be cautioned.
“We, the Grassroots Development Initiative, are telling the people of Rivers State that the information credited to Dr. Dakuku Peterside was a false information. All the road construction embarked upon by the governor is well over 70 kilometres achieved so far,” he said.
On the nullification of Wike’s election by the State Election Petitions Tribunal, the GDI Secretary General expressed confidence that the Appeal Court ruling would favour Wike, his supporters.
Speaking on the issue on the length of road rehabilitated by the current administration, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Davies Ikanya, said the documents to show that Wike only worked on 10 kilometres of roads were at the State Ministry of Works.
Ikanya said, “If you go to the Ministry of Works now, record that is available there says only 10 kilometres of road have been achieved. If you add all the patches together, it will give you only 10 kilometres.
“It is not about Dakuku (Peterside). We don’t talk from the blues; we talk from official records. If a road is five kilometres and only 500 metres is good, it is only the 500 metres that has been repaired. If you count all the ones that they have repaired, it will only give you 10 kilometres.”
RIVERS State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has told the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 governorship election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, not to delude himself on the possibility of a rerun of the poll in the state.
Nyesom Wike
Wike, who said Peterside embarked on an illegal campaign on Saturday, explained that the APC leader’s action could heat up 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 Petitions 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 re-run 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.”
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 its 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 Wike that said that he would win the governorship election even if it were conducted 100 times.”
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State in the April election has described the allegation by Chief Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State of launching his campaign ahead of the re-run election as wicked, malicious and the vituperation of a drowning man.
Peterside who spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital said Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State need sympathy because finally, they have come to their wits’ end. According to the APC chieftain, PDP’s desperation and proclivity for lies and outright misinformation is borne out of nervousness and fear of the impending governorship election re-run.
“I am aware that Wike and his associates who perpetrated the worst impunity and electoral fraud during the last general election are in panic. One would have expected a sober and repentant PDP after that landmark judgement but honestly, those guys are incapable of introspection.
“Rather than tow the path of honour, they have chosen, not only to pour invectives on the judges but also misinform the general public on issues around the judgement, particularly with regard to the card reader.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, I wish to state categorically that the fraudulent Rivers State election of March 11 was not cancelled only on non compliance and usage of the card reader. The judges cited other irregularities and breaches. For instance, the APC provided evidence that Dr. Chituru Orluwene who was INEC’s collation officer for Degema LGA is a known PDP member and was also a member of the PDP Campaign Organisation (the medical team). APC also established that known members of the PDP worked as INEC’s ad hoc staff for the election.
“Our party proved beyond doubt that in all the LGA’s, total accreditation for the Governorship Elections was at variance with that of the House of Assembly. We provided evidence with Omuma LGA where they alleged that election did not hold for Governorship but held for the House of Assembly. The same cheap and criminal manipulation took place in Wards 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 in Obio/Akpo LGA.
“The documents filed by PDP and Wike which showed photographs of the former governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi casting his vote at Ubima Ward 8, Unit 14 also failed integrity test because INEC could not provide results from the former governor’s unit. We also proved to the tribunal that results were clearly written while some were snatched. We pointed to the disparity on number of accreditation on the result sheets which is different from the tick of accreditation on voter register and the card reader report. APC also established the inconsistency between accreditation figures for Governorship and the House of Assembly elections even in same units.
“Again, APC proved that the RAC Centre at Asari-Toru LGA with electoral materials for 10 out of 13 wards was burnt, this is in addition to providing incontrovertible evidence that there was large scale violence across the state.
“I have gone through this whole length just to debunk the many lies of PDP. The question is: how could there be an election in an atmosphere of chaos and lawlessness?
“The propaganda and insistence that Wike was duly elected even in the face of undisputed evidence of violence and malpractices is now meaningless and sounding like a broken record.
“Unfortunately, the repeated attempt at portraying Wike as an excellent manager of men and resources is not only nauseating but laughable. This absurdity of false tales and propaganda was recently taken to another level when he was described by his agents as “the best governor in Nigeria today”.
“Instead of facing the real issue of monumental electoral fraud and violence, the governor and his spin doctors are busy misinforming people, obtaining loans running into hundreds of billions and mortgaging the future of our state, including the unborn generation.
“And what of the fictional and frivolous projects that are being peddled every where? These are all desperate attempts to hoodwink the general public and distract people from the unfortunate issues that brought Rivers State to this crossroads.
“Let me state here as a God-fearing person that there is no way I could have launched my campaign, knowing full well the dictates of the law and the consequences of such an action. Wike and PDP are the ones who are planning to kick off their state campaign next week and this is a well known fact.
“Unlike Wike, I detest impunity and lawlessness, and I am not somebody who takes delight in violating the laws of the land or constituted authority. I have a name and my background speaks for me! Those who know me can attest to my integrity, good breeding and respect for laws. These are qualities my opponent cannot flaunt publicly in good conscience.”
The ruling by the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which nullified the April 11 governorship poll and ordered a fresh election, has reset the political permutation in the state, writes CHUKWUDI AKASIKE
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
Last week, the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal nullified the April 11 governorship election in which former Minister of Education and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Nyesom Wike, was declared the winner.
The tribunal also ordered a rerun of the poll. Except a higher court – the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court – gives a contrary ruling, the Independent National Electoral Commission has been ordered to conduct a fresh poll within 90 days.
In nullifying the governorship election in the state, the tribunal held that the election of Wike failed to substantially comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
It will be recalled that INEC had declared Wike the winner of the poll with 1,029,102 votes, while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, came second with 124,896 votes and Mr. Tonye Princewill, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, got 10,142 votes.
However, Peterside and the APC had rejected the election, describing it as a sham before heading for the tribunal, which, on October 24, 2015, cancelled the election and ordered a rerun within 90 days. Swiftly, Wike and the PDP declared that they would appeal the tribunal’s judgement at the Court of Appeal.
A week after the tribunal’s ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed a suit filed by Wike, challenging the authority of the state governorship election tribunal to sit in Abuja. The governor also opposed the failure of the President of the Court of Appeal to consult with the Rivers State Chief Judge and President of the Customary Court of Appeal before constituting the tribunal.
The Supreme Court, however, ruled that the President of the Court of Appeal had the powers to transfer the sitting of the tribunal to Abuja to safeguard the lives of the judges and their staff. The apex court also ruled that in view of the fact that Rivers had no chief judge or Customary Court of Appeal, it would have been impossible for the president of the appellate court to have consulted them before the constitution of the tribunal. The two courts’ rulings imply that the only way to change the situation is for Wike to lodge an appeal against the ruling by the tribunal.
In the event of a rerun of the election, close watchers of political events in the state say the biggest battle, again, will be between Wike and Peterside – between the PDP and the APC.
Speaking on the political situation in the state, Dr. Nfon Ekpootu of the Department of History, University of Port Harcourt, said the political scenario was already in a mess. She added that it might be difficult to get a free and fair election in Rivers.
Having lost the presidency to the APC, the PDP would not want to lose Rivers to the ruling party, she added.
The scholar explained that given the situation on ground and with the payment of workers’ and pensioners’ backlog of salaries and pensions, Wike could have the upper hand in the rerun.
Speaking on Peterside’s chances, Ekpootu pointed out that though Peterside possessed the qualities of a gentleman, he might not be rugged and experienced enough to handle the situation in the state.
Ekpootu said, “To speak on who may become the governor in the event that there is a rerun is difficult because the political scenario in the state is messed up. If we have a well laid-out standard in terms of having a free and fair election, then it will be easy to predict who will win in a rerun.
“There is no doubt that the PDP and the APC will not let go. The PDP, after losing out at the centre, will not want to lose Rivers to the APC. However, a rerun will not change the problem of rigging because we may still see electoral malpractices and that is why it is difficult to say if the PDP or the APC will win.
Nyesom Wike
“In a free and fair election, Wike may get the people’s sympathy. Again, people may also want to look at Peterside, but he has to have a rugged sense of politics; it is not just about being a gentleman: he must be diplomatic, have good control and be ‘rugged.’ Being ‘rugged’ does not mean that we want bad people to lead the state. Rivers is not like other states; it is strategic to the country.”
A public affairs analyst and human rights activist, Dr. Jackson Omenazu, who has a different view different from Ekpootu’s, stated that the state would not allow a particular tribe to lead the state for 16 years, adding that the PDP candidate is from Ikwerre, the same tribe with the past governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who led the state for eight years.
According to Omenazu, such thinking will determine where the pendulum will swing.
He said, “There is no doubt that if there is a rerun in Rivers today, the pendulum will swing towards the APC. In this state, it will be morally wrong for a particular tribe to rule the state for 16 years. Without the (alleged) hoodwinking by the former President (Goodluck Jonathan) and his wife, and the unleashing of ‘federal might’ on the state in the last election, the APC would have won.
“Amaechi’s influence can never be ruled out. Everybody knows the truth that Rivers people will queue behind the APC in a free and fair election.”
A Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Mr. Onyebuchi Ibeme, however, told SUNDAY PUNCH that it was too early to predict how the rerun would go, saying he does not see the PDP losing its appeal against the tribunals ruling.
Ibeme described the two candidates – Wike and Peterside – as strong and popular, maintaining that many factors may come up within the mandatory 90 days given for the preparation of election in case the need for a rerun was confirmed.
He, however, called for a free and fair election to determine who was the most accepted by the people of the state.
Ibeme said, “If there is a rerun, it will be difficult to predict a winner because the two candidates that are the frontrunners are popular. All we pray is for the system to allow a free and fair election so that we can know who is more popular than the other. For now, I cannot say who will win because many factors will come into play within the 90 days.”
Earlier both the PDP and the APC in the state had boasted about winning the governorship election in case there is a rerun. The Chairman of the PDP in Rivers, Mr. Felix Obuah, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Jerry Needam, had stated that though the PDP believed that the ruling by the tribunal would be upturned by the Court of Appeal, it would win the poll even if it was conducted many times.
Obuah said with the current governor paying arrears of salaries owed workers, pensioners, sportsmen and students on scholarship, the people of the state would “naturally” vote for him.
He said, “If in March and April 2015 when elections were held, all council chairmen and councilors were in the APC and the PDP won, what would happen now that the PDP has the advantage?”
But the state APC asked Wike and the PDP to jettison the idea of appealing the nullification of the governorship poll. The Chairman of the APC in Rivers, Dr. Davies Ikanya, stated that Wike was aware that it would be impossible to beat Peterside in a free and fair election.
He said, “In a free and fair election, the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, will beat him (Wike) so mercilessly that he will lose his deposit. If Wike and the PDP are convinced that they truly won any election in Rivers, we challenge them not to appeal the tribunal judgement and let the people of the state decide their fate in a free and fair election.”
Ikanya, who spoke through his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Chukwuemeka Eze, added that the people of the state were expecting a rerun that would be devoid of shooting, killing and maiming that marred the last exercise.
In his assessment of the political situation, Mr. Victor Borubo, a Rivers-based media practitioner, said it would be too early to predict who would win the election should there be a rerun. He said people would begin to think of a rerun only after the appellate court had upheld the decision of the lower court (the tribunal) on the election.
Nevertheless, Borubo maintained that the race would be “a very close one” because the scenario would be different, especially as it concerned the personnel of INEC that would conduct the election.
He said, “At this stage, it will be too early to predict who will win the election in case there is a rerun. Do not forget that the Appeal Court still has to give its verdict on the decision of the tribunal.
“Of course, the scenario and atmosphere will be different this time around; that is if there will be a rerun of the governorship election. Even, the current personnel of INEC will be changed; they will be transferred to give room for a credible election to take place in the state. The people of the state are in need of a credible election.”
Borubo also appealed to politicians in the state to allow the people make their choice as such an exercise was targeted at choosing who would represent them. He stated that those who were not ready to abide by the dictates of the Electoral Act should not be part of the rerun if it was upheld by the highest court in the land.
“The politicians should allow peace to reign. A situation where voters would be intimidated will always discourage them from voting. But like I said, we are not sure yet if there will be a rerun until probably the matter is decided by the apex court (Supreme Court),” Borubo stressed.
Similarly, a businessman based in Port Harcourt, James Ehule, told SUNDAY PUNCH that a rerun in Rivers would be interesting because INEC would concentrate on the state alone, since other reruns would not hold the same day. He maintained that it would be difficult for anybody to engage in ballot snatching or other forms of electoral fraud because security personnel would be everywhere.
According to Ehule, if there is a rerun, anybody that emerges will be the authentic governor and there will be no need for anybody to challenge the outcome in court. “But it will be interesting because the whole nation will now focus her attention on Rivers State,” he added.
On the likely outcome of the rerun, Ehule pointed out that Wike stood a better chance of winning if the courts called for a rerun. He said his argument was based on the governor’s performance since he was sworn in to office. According to the businessman, the people of the state are still not happy over the way Jonathan lost the presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The people of Rivers State and the entire Niger Delta region are still angry over the way they lost the presidency to the APC and that is why Wike may enjoy the sympathy of the these people when it comes to a possible rerun of the governorship election. Rivers is known to be a PDP state and that is why it will be difficult for the APC to win here (in the state),” he added.
In his opinion, radio commentator, Douglas Onyenwe, disagreed with Ehule. He recalled that there was “an open external interference” during the last election that was nullified by the tribunal, adding that the APC may want to take its pound of flesh using the same alleged unwholesome tactic embraced by the PDP in the state during the April 11 election.
Onyenwe said, “We cannot be unmindful of the fact that the APC is at the centre and occupying the position of the Federal Government. That was not the case when the last governorship election was held in Rivers. It is very easy to notice that the APC candidates here, including the governorship candidate, were like orphans because nobody listened to their complaints of brazen election malpractices against them.
“INEC was allegedly involved; some security agents were involved and nothing happened to address the situation, even when Amaechi cried to high heavens that the elections were far from Nigerian standard, not to talk of international standard. But today, take a look at what is happening; the possibility of a rerun where INEC will know that it must do its job well. I do not belong to any of the political parties but I love the guts of the former governor.”
Onyenwe, however, maintained that Peterside would win a possible rerun if he and his party prepared well for the exercise. He urged INEC and other security agencies to shun the temptation of doing the bidding of the Federal Government and allow peoples’ votes to count.
The National Coordinator of Niger Delta Peoples Mandate Forum, Mr. Ifeanyi Dike, has a different view from that of Onyenwe. He said should election be held today, Wike would win fair and square. He explained that the embattled governor had been able to capture the attention of the people with the completion of some road projects in the state within the past five months.
He said, “INEC will give 90 days for everybody to prepare for the election. But if a rerun is held today, Wike will win. If it is done within three months, it will be a 50-50 chance between Peterside and Wike. Don’t also forget that Wike has more foot soldiers than the APC in the state.”
A lawmaker in the state’ Assembly, Mr. Evans Bipi, said he was not expecting a rerun of the governorship election. Bipi, who represents Ogu/Bolo State Constituency, however noted that Wike would emerge victorious if the courts called for a rerun.
Describing the governor as “a grass roots man,” Bipi boasted that a rerun of the election would afford the PDP the opportunity of showing the world that Wike’s victory in the last election was not a fluke. He said the people of the state were ready to come out and vote again for the governor.
A lecturer in one of the higher institutions in the state, Dr. Paul Kennedy, however, described Peterside as a household name in the state. He stated that the unwritten agreement on rotation of the governorship position would give the APC candidate an edge over Wike. He added that the riverine areas in the state would begin to mobilise for Peterside, based on the principle of rotation of power in the state.
He explained that Peterside remained “generally acceptable” to the people of the state, adding that a free and fair election will prove him right.
“Peterside is the person that is generally acceptable. There is no way the PDP will win the governorship election in a free and fair contest. Even in all the over 4,000 polling unit and in every part of the state, Peterside is already a household name.
“If the election held last time was credible, there was no way Peterside would not have emerged the governor of the state. But we will take solace in the fact that there will be a rerun and the people will have the opportunity to come out and vote. Some of the APC supporters could not come out to vote because of the fear of being harassed by political thugs,” Kennedy noted.
……describes criticism as unwarranted and regrettable
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State in the April election has condemned in very strong terms, the denigration of the judiciary by governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, his agents and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
Peterside who spoke in Abuja said the vilification of an important arm of government like the judiciary by desperate politicians portends grave danger for Nigeria and her budding democracy.
He described the disparagement and on-going war against the judiciary by Wike and the PDP as a dangerous example that must be checked quickly because of its calamitous consequences.
“The judiciary is a sacred and respected institution. Therefore, any person or persons who openly criticize judges and their rulings obviously have a sinister motive.
“However, it is gratifying to note that people are beginning to fully appreciate the character and temperament of the people we engaged during the last general elections in Rivers State. They are obviously finding it difficult to live under due process and the rule of law because they are used to impunity and violence, the two evils that were taken to new heights under the last government.
“If service is really the reason for being in politics, then it is tragic that these politicians are conducting themselves in such a spiteful manner. Nobody is above the law and when people openly and brazenly challenge institutions of state like the judiciary, it sends the wrong signal.
“The APC in Rivers State and its candidates took their losses at the various election petitions tribunals with equanimity, knowing full well that a window of opportunity still exists. Even when we felt very dissatisfied with the verdicts, we still did not abuse the judiciary or judges who handled our cases because we know the consequences of such defamatory actions.
“Wike and Rivers PDP are still living in the past but they should be reminded that Nigeria of today is a survivor because she defeated impunity and all the lawlessness of the last administration”.
Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State in the April, 2015 election has empathized with the Joinkrama, Akinima and Ubie communities currently ravaged by devastating floods which have displaced the inhabitants of the areas in Ahoada West Local Government Area in Rivers State.
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
These devastating floods, occasioned by the Orashi River overflowing its banks, have submerged houses and farmlands of these agrarian communities, leading to the displacement of the inhabitants, their lives and livelihood generally disrupted and left stranded.
Dr. Peterside expressed his sadness over the avoidable sufferings the people of Joinkrama, Akinama, Ubie and other surrounding communities have been subjected to due to the floods.
“It is unfortunate to observe the disruption to lives and livelihoods of our people across these flooded communities at this time. Indeed, it is quite sad to note that most residents in the various communities now access their homes through canoes and makeshift bridges,” Dr. Peterside bemoaned.
He called on relevant authorities to urgently intervene to save the lives and livelihood of the people of the affected areas who are largely farmers following the destruction of their entire farmlands by the ever-rising floods.
“Government should immediately come to the aid of these people by providing them safe location of aboard; urgent medical attention because of the imminent breakout of diseases and provide them food and safe drinking water until the situation returns to normal,” Dr Peterside stated.
The Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the April general elections in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside has condemned, in very strong terms, recent attacks and killings at Oyorokoto fishing settlement in Andoni Local Government Area by unknown gunmen.
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
In a press release issued yesterday to NF-Reports, Dr. Peterside, decried the spate of repeated attacks on Oyorokoto, the largest fishing settlement in the entire West Coast of Africa while calling on the authorities to ensure that the Joint Task Force [JTF] Unit established sometime in the past in the area, is stationed at the fishing settlement being a strategic and most viable economic centre in the Federal Constituency.
“The spate of attacks and killings of innocent inhabitants of Oyorokoto must be brought to an immediate halt so that the settlement will continue to provide livelihood to the numerous fishermen and their family members who live and work so hard for a livelihood at the settlement.”
Dr. Peterside stressed the need for governments at every level to be alive to their responsibilities, primary of which is the protection of lives and property.
“Governments must not shirk their responsibility of safeguarding life and property of citizens; this is the primary responsibility of government everywhere,” Peterside stressed.
Dr. Peterside called on security agents to diligently track down the criminals behind the incessant attacks on the fishing settlement including all those who may be sponsoring the criminals to ensure that a final stop is put to their nefarious activities in the area.
He called on the inhabitants of Oyorokoto to continue to be peaceful and vigilant but refrain from resorting to any actions that may bring them in collision course with the authorities.
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State in the April election has commiserated with the Awolowo family on the exit of their Matriarch, Madam Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.
Peterside who described Awolowo as a great woman of substance said Nigeria will miss her interventions and wise counsel.
A press statement signed by Sylvester Asoya Special Assistant on Media to Dr.Dakuku Peterside and made available to NF-Reports noted that, “Among the wives of First Republic politicians, HID was without any doubt, one of the most visible and outstanding women of that glorious era. The sage himself captured her real essence when he fondly described her as “My Jewel of Inestimable value.”
According Hon. Dakuku, that apt description, over the years, gave a hint on her real meaning, not just to the Awolowo family, friends and admirers, but to the entire nation.
“A great Iroko has indeed fallen but like every mortal, she must travel this path. She will be remembered for her resourcefulness and carriage, and for being the pillar behind the great Awo.
“Without HID, it is very doubtful if Chief Obafemi Awolowo would have become that enigmatic and successful politician who bestrode our nation’s political space for many decades.
“HID, like Chief Awolowo, will never die. Surely, she will live forever, particularly in the minds of those who benefitted from her husband’s vision in human capital development.
“She will be greatly missed. And for the living, particularly those in public office, we must all draw from her example of service, consistency and commitment to great ideals. May her soul rest in peace”
Petitioners at the Rivers State governorship election petition tribunal are now placed in a precarious situation as the tribunal yesterday compressed the time within which they must present their case.
Nyesom Wike
With the development, the petitioners are now left with two days within which to call about 150 of its scheduled 200 witnesses having called about 50 within eight days of its earlier allotted 14 days as at last Saturday.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate at the last governorship election, Dakuku Peterside, are challenging the outcome of the election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Nyesom Wike are listed as respondents before the tribunal.
Yesterday, the tribunal announced its intention to amend its earlier schedule of proceedings where petitioners were allocated 14 days to present their case, and the defendants given 10 days each.
Tribunal Chairman Justice Mohammed Ambrosa told parties at the resumption of proceedings yesterday that the tribunal was running out of time and needed to alter its earlier schedule, as contained in the report of its pre-hearing session dated 28, 2015.
By the schedule, the petitioners were allocated 14 days to conduct their case, while the respondents – INEC, Wike and PDP – were allocated 10 days each.
Yesterday, Justice Ambrosa noted that the tribunal would be left with 36 days from yesterday, after the deduction of Sallah holiday and other work-free days, with just a day to deliver its judgment, should it stick with its earlier schedule. He observed that, since he resumed after the redeployment of his predecessor, on September 3, he had consistently insisted that the tribunal was out of time.
Justice Ambrosa reduced the petitioners’ days from 14 to 10 while each respondent’s earlier allocated 10 days were reduced to six.
Respondents lawyers: Onyechi Ikpeazu (for INEC), Okey Wali (for Wike) and Chris Uche (for PDP) opposed the request by petitioners’ lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN) to allow parties two additional days in view of the number of witnesses and documentary evidence yet to be presented by the petitioners.
Ikpeazu, Wali and Uche urged the tribunal not to change its mind having elected to reduce the number of days earlier allocated to parties by four days each. In the alternative, they requested the deduction of one day as against the two days suggested by the respondents’ lawyer.
Justice Ambrosa insited on the tribunal’s earlier directive, but suggested that the tribunal’s closing time would be elastic. He adjourned the commencement of the new schedule to today at 10 am.
The petitioners had as at last Saturday called 47 witnesses, including an INEC official, four Army captains, two senior officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and a member of the Action Alliance (AA) party.
The DSS officials, Benson Chukwuma and Godwin Mbah, who said they each led a team of DSS officials to monitor and provide security at the election, said although things began well at the inception of accreditation on April 11 , the electoral process was disrupted by hired hoodlums midway, thereby preventing proper voting and compilation of results.
Kamuzu Omiete Blankson, who said he acted as the Collation agent for his party (the AA), said the election was marred by violent sporadic shooting, burning of election materials and intimidation.
Chukwuma, who testified as the petitioners’ 43rd witness and monitored in Ogu-Bolu LG, said the election was disrupted at a point following attack on election officials by hoodlums.
The Rivers State governorship election held on April 11, 2015 was a sham and mockery of democracy, the Independent National Electoral Commission told the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja on Friday.
The electoral body, which conducts governorship and state houses of assembly elections through its Resident Electoral Commissioners in various states, dismissed the poll held in Rivers State on April 11 as a “kangaroo” exercise, with shootings and allocation of figures as well as “all kinds of impunity” taking place on the day of the poll.
INEC is the first respondent to the petition filed before the tribunal by the All Progressives Congress and its candidate in the governorship election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who are seeking the nullification of the election on the grounds that it was marred by violence, irregularities and electoral malpractices.
Other respondents to the petition are Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party, whose declaration as the winner of the poll is being challenged by the petitioners.
INEC’s representative, Charles Okoye, who heads the Election and Party Monitoring Department of the commission in Rivers State, appeared before the Justice Mohammed Ambrosa-led tribunal on Friday on subpoena, testifying that the election was conducted in an atmosphere of warfare and “militant terrorism.”
The witness, who said he monitored the April 11 election alongside three national commissioners of INEC, with his monitoring teams in 19 out of the 23 local government areas of the state, also told the tribunal that the poll was characterised by large scale violence and disruption of polls.
He said, “During the monitoring exercise, what we observed was that the election was a warfare. It was a militant terrorism and also a sham, a kangaro election. It is a mockery of democracy. The election was characterised by large scale violence and disruption of polls.
“There was snatching of election materials, shooting and allocation of figures and all kinds of impunity happened at the election.”
The subpoena which compelled the witness to appear before the tribunal was obtained by the petitioners.
Okoye, who was led in evidence by the petitioners’ lawyer, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), said apart from sending various teams to 19 local government areas of the state, he, along with three national commissioners of the commission, visited eight LGA’s on the day of the election.
The report of the monitoring exercise, which Okoye said was co-signed by him and the three other national commissioners, was tendered and admitted by the tribunal as Exhibit A2.
The counsel for the respondents comprising INEC, Wike and PDP, said they would object to the report at the stage of final addresses because it was not front-loaded with the petition.
Okoye debunked allegation by INEC’s lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), during cross-examination that the report of the monitoring exercise was his private document.
“If it is my private document, it will not be certified by INEC. The report was passed to the national headquaters,” Okoye further said.
