Having gone through the rigorous processes of back and forth in Abuja, all is set for a showdown as the case is about to begin with the preparation of witnesses in sight(some of which are youth corpers which worked during the elections in Rivers state)
1. It’s either the APC and her forensic experts are allowed unfettered access to the election materials for inspection. Which in any case would expose the deliberate fraud carried out on Rivers people and would lead to cancellation of the said polls due to irregularities and gross misconduct
OR
2. The entire gubernatorial/house of assembly elections are nullified due to lack of evidence to suggest the elections were held. This is if the materials are not inspected
.
This goes further to tell you that it’s a “win-win” situation that’s why we are certain that there will be a re-run election.
Now at this point, it would be wise to inform you of the nature of the matter before the courts. The APC is challenging the victory of Nyesom Wike on the grounds that elections did not take place in Rivers state and not that they won the said election.
With great humility, I say that if the APC had challenged based on the fact that they had won the elections but the results were manipulated then they may have lost irreversibly. However, with the case in court going by the only two options then there is no hiding place for Wike as he shall be shown the way out by the courts.
Section: 179. Subsection: (2) A candidate for an election to the office of Governor of a State shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, being two or more candidates –
(a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and
(b) he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas of the state.(1999 constitution as amended)
Going by the provision above, it’s my argument that if the PDP actually claims elections were held in 4000+ polling units in the state then they should stop making excuses for Gesilah Khan and allow the inspection to take place so we can see clearly by the votes from all units, how Wike won. However, going by the recent tactics of citing irregularities and seeking to stop the inspection of materials one can comfortably say that elections were not held in all polling units and if that is the case; one cannot say that because elections held in 900 out of 4000+ units that elections held in the entire state. Notwithstanding the fact that collation officers were manhandled in a bid to alter results.
When the Presidential results were being collated at ICC Abuja, it was obvious that were discrepancies as the returning officer even went ahead to say the results were prepared in an unusual manner as he had difficulty reading from the results he had written down by himself but rather preferred to read from the one printed.
However, this piece is to inform the masses correctly on the true position of things. The tribunal processes sum up to 180days, with the 1st 90days for the court proceedings ending with a judgement and the 2nd 90days for the re-run election. This informs the latest do or die tactics being employed by Wike and his supporters in their bid to blackmail others in a bid to appear as demigods before the people but Rivers people know better. They were cajoled in most places by the sheer hatred for Rt.Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, a man who did no wrong only that the interests of Rivers people preoccupied his thinking processes.
The PDP came into power in 1999 through a merger process and there were no hate campaigns but what we see now is a reflection of time. It shows that we as a people are advancing in time nonetheless, our thinking still needs to be worked upon. As you cannot give what you don’t have.
In lieu of the above, it is not a hidden fact that the Federal Government and Civil Society Groups have called for the investigation and imminent punishment of electoral offenders and perpetrators of electoral violence in Rivers state Pre – and Post – electoral. If this is done, how are we certain that Chief Nyesom Wike won’t be found culpable and punished? If then this happens then he won’t be eligible to contest a re-run. Secondly, a lot can still remember the EFCC case Nyesom Wike had in the former Governor’s 1st tenure also is the recent alleged corruption in the ministry of education having a current debt profile of N1.2trn while undergraduates stayed home for 7months, Polytechnic stayed home for 11months, Federal Gov’t colleges had to give kick-backs to Wike or is it the uncompleted Almajiri schools and the federal universities that were built on the air after allocations had been given to contractors? Or the supply of textbooks to the tune of N200bn but the supplies never came though the funds were released. The conspicuous Faculty of Law building in the University of Port Harcourt for which funds have been given but someone diverted a reasonable part that has affected the pace of work there. For over 3years that building had remained stagnant while other structures have been started and completed.
All these files are pending his immunity as governor, so this tells you the fate of the man you wish to follow. The minute the courts nullify the election. We would like for Wike to kindly answer the probe panel with a view to shedding more light on issues. So, he “may” not make the list of eligible candidates for the re-run.
On the issue of striking out the cases of APGA and LP at the tribunal, these are things that should not make one lose sleep. The reasons given for the action was the fact that they didn’t meet up the 21days notice supposed to be given to INEC before selecting candidates. On this note, the President of the court of appeal has repeatedly asked tribunal Judges to hear cases based on their merit and not bother themselves with pre-election matters as the tribunal has no jurisdiction on such matters. So I want to believe the Judges did so in error and that would be corrected and if the candidates decides, such a judgement would be challenged.
This is my humble submission
With the above, I appeal to your sense of judgement to try someone who has your interest at heart. One who rather than betray you for his selfish interest while he was in Abuja, upheld you in his heart and fought for your interests.
To our dear Rivers youths as well as students, this is a man who has repeatedly protected your interests and supported your aspirations in anyway possible.
He is Hon. Dakuku Adolphus Peterside, a true Rivers man and our pride.
Lawrence Banigo is a political activist cum a grass root mobilizer, he writes from Port Harcourt.
This is a biased tale. A one sided tale. You make up this post just because your a supporter of Dakuku. You never mentioned that Dakuku also has some skeleton in his cupboard. Was he not the one who was involved in cult activities while in UST in 1993? There are referrals from newspapers that had it online for the world to see. You see, no one is without blemish. So make your write-ups base on a normal level playing field and not just been biased on someone you alone have adjudged wrong-doing.
This is outright rubbish by an APC paper! Why being biased PUO? Amaechi and Dakuku- sponsored paper is not worth it. Be careful and be straightforward in your journalism or Wike would ban you.