Ganduje’s Claim That Free Election Is Abnormal In Rivers Angers Wike

BEVERLY HILLS, December 02, (THEWILL) – The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has tackled his Kano state counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje, who is the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC Campaign Committee for the December 10 rerun elections in Rivers, for claiming that free and fair elections is abnormal in that part of the country.

Ganduje, who made the remark while addressing newsmen shortly after having a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, stated that efforts would be made to make the elections credible this time round.

Expressing the readiness of the APC to win the rerun elections, he said: “We are prepared. We just came out of Ondo elections. We have fresh ideas even though both environments are different but we have our own strategies.

“Like in Ondo State, we must ensure have free and fair elections.

“You know in that part of the country, having free and fair elections is not normal and we have to make it normal this time.

“We must ensure that there is security so that people will come out and vote. That is our main preoccupation at the moment. We are making wider consultations with stakeholders and we believe we will succeed.”

But reacting to the statement of the Kano state Governor, Wike described the remark as unfortunate, wondering if Ganduje has now become the electoral umpire that would conduct the elections.

According to the Rivers Governor, “It is unfortunate if he (Ganduje) said so. As far as I am concerned, elections have been normal in my part of the country. All we are asking for is free and fair election.

“Is Governor Ganduje speaking on behalf of INEC? Is he the one conducting the elections now? I have respect for him as an elderly person but his statement is unfortunate.

“When his friend won the governorship election in Rivers State, the election was normal. The election was also normal in Edo State where his party won. We are waiting for him to come and perform the magic he did in Kano State.”

Wike went on to declare that he would be waiting for Ganduje to come and perform the magic he performed in his state during the last general elections.