Thumbprinting still on to match figures of results declared – Abe
Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Magnus Abe has alleged that Governor Nyesom Wike had compelled traditional rulers in the state to adopt Siminialayi Fubara (now governor elect) as their sole candidate prior to the March 18 rescheduled election..
This is as he said the letter trending in the social media purposely written to congratulate the governor-elect on his victory and ascribed to him (Ane) was concocted by the Rivers State Government, saying it didn’t emanate from him.
Abe stated this while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Wednesday.
He further alleged that the monarchs through the state council of traditional rulers were further compelled to implement the adoption of the governorship candidate of the
Peoples Democratic Party.(as he then was) in their domains.
Senator Abe stated “The source of that congratulatory letter is the Rivers State Government. If you read the letter and you listen to the Governor’s broadcast. They are one and the same thing .
“So they are the source of the letter. If i was not ready for election, the night before the election,the Governor made a broadcast.”
On the Governor Wike’s claim that Abe lost because he was not prepares for the election, the latter accused the former of deliberately disenfranchising his people in Ogoni through violence.
“Out of the people he declared wanted 70 percent of them were from Ogoni. So, so if i wasn’t ready for election why was he targeting Ogoni?
“Everything they did was dome to ensure that Ogoni people were disenfranchised. In Khana, all the ballot papers were mixed up.
“At the end of the day the total votes in Khana was less than six thousand..And i am not ready for election. Every target in this whole exercise, the police came here, their only target was to destroy the SDP.
“Our members were been specifically targeted and arrested axross the state on the intructions of the Governor” he stated.
Abe noted that the way to know if people were ready for an election was for those making such atatement o allow elecrions to hold.
He said “Where in Rivers State could ordinary people peaceful go and present themselves at the polling unit to cast a vote for a candidate of their choice?
“The same governor who was harassing traditional rulers for receiving candidates of other parties on courtesy call was the one who directed the entire state traditional rulers council to adopt one candidate, and everybody must go home and implement that adoption.
“So those who have done what they have done can at least respect the peace of the state by making sure that their comments do not further inflame those who are already offended.
“Ogoni people were clearly disenfranchised in this past election. They were not allowed to vote. As soon as people finished accreditation, particularly in Tai local government, all the materials were carted. away.”
Continuing Abe stated,”And in a lot of places, thumbprinting is still going on even as we speak to match figures that have already been declared. Nigeria can do better.”
On his next line of action, the SDP governorship candidate said,”We will consult with our party leadership, examine the issues and decide on what to do soon.”
But reacting to the Abe’s allegation, Emmanuel Epelle, media aide to the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Dandison Jaja said it is not true.
Epelle stated, “It is not true. Governor Wike never asked Traditional Rulers to adopt Sim Funara. What i know I know is that he enjoined them to ensure there was peace in their domains during the elections.
“You know traditional leaders are supposed to be apolitical. The Governor asked them to ensure that youths in their domains didn’t cause crisis.”
