Pastor Warigbani Ezekiel Calls For Cancellation Of Rivers Results

As most of us predicted, the presidential election held in Rivers state on Saturday, 25th February, 2023 had failed every acceptable Democratic standard and therefore must be cancelled. 

The conduct of the officials of the election management body, INEC, was at most abysmally embarrassing and unearthical.

As the General Elections approached, Nigerians were expectant of a transparent Election following the Electoral Act and the introduction of BVAS Machine.

Generally, in Rivers State, the Election was conducted fairly. However , the collated results of the Polling Units could not be transmitted to the INEC Portal following the deliberate shut down of the INEC Saver at that critical stage of concluding the most important process of the exercise.

The results being announced so far cannot be a true reflection of the wishes of Rivers people and proves beyond every reasonable doubt that INEC officials were compromised and appears to be working for the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who had variously boasted that he had INEC in his pocket. 

At this point, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and his agencies invaded the centers with their bags of hard currencies and hijacked the sensitive materials to their hideouts. The consequence is that, the already collated results have been mutilated, and no longer represent the voice of the electorates.

Nothing butresses this fact like the case of Gokana LGA where two sets of results were announced within hours of each other. 

All across the state we are confronted with the same sickening electoral heist pertratec by Gov. Wike and his agents. 

Weeks to the election date, we were confronted with violent attacks on politicians in the state, especially those perceived to be opposed to Governor Nyesom Wike.

I had earlier expressed worry at the audacity of those carrying out the attacks without any form of condemnation from Governor Wike, who swore on oath to protect lives and property in the State.

In the past one week Rivers people have been attacked, harassed, harmed and their residences bombed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) without a whimper of reservations from the State Government.

Tears, sorrows and blood have been the hallmark of activities trailing the political life of the governor, who relishes in crude politics over ideas and decency.

On Thursday, Feb 23rd, 2023, explosives were detonoted at the Etche residence of Hon Charles Anyanwu, the APC candidate for House of Assembly. Early in the morning on Friday, the houses of Chief Glory Emeh and Dr Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja respectively, both of them pro-Atiku PDP politicians were dynamited. Hon Gabriel Pidomson, another pro-Atiku PDP politician was also harassed by thugs suspected to be loyal to Wike. 

Same day, prominent Labour Party leaders in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas were harassed and intimidated. Most of the attack on labour leaders were by known local government functionaries who operated without let.

I want to remind Governor Wike that there will always be his day in the court of Rivers’ people, where he would be made to answer for all the atrocities that happened during his term as governor of Rivers State.

Our forefathers had a dream of a great State, where ideas, decency, liberty and industry would be the benchmark of poilical engagments but we have been unfortunate with the present governor, who is anything but responsible and graceful.

It is a shame that we have such a scenario where a sitting governor would declare his fellow Rivers people enemies of the state and even go ahead to threaten them of dire consequences, hence no surprises of what is being played out today.

One thing is for sure, a day of reckoning will come for Wike and his cohorts. No amount of injustice meted on Rivers people will go unpunished, the Governor will be made to answer for all the charges when the time comes.

It is on this premise that I call on the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to outrightly cancel the Rivers State results and call for a fresh election in the State.

I also call on Rivers people not to be cowed or feel dejected by the machinations of evil people; this State belongs to all of us and no one man is more Rivers than any of us. We shall resist this dangerous trend and God being on our side, we shall conquer.    

I urge Rivers people to persevere and remain resolute in their quest to bring Gov. Wike to justice by masively rejecting Siminialayi Fubara on March 11th. 

We must also not relent until this electoral heist and usurpation of our mandates ochestrated by Gov Wike and his willing accomplices in the Rivers INEC offices is overturned and the real result announced. 

Signed

Pastor Warigbani Ezekiel

27/02/2023