28 parties declare support for Wike

Leadership of 27 of the 29 political parties that contested the last general election in Rivers State have affirmed support for Governor Nyesom Wike.

The parties said they were strongly behind the candidature of the governor should the Supreme Court nullify the April 11 gubernatorial election and order a re-run in 2016.

Speaking under the aegis of Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, they pointed out that leaders of the other parties that contested the governorship election along with Wike had paid him a solidarity visit on April 15, where they collectively declared their support for his victory at the polls.

Rivers State Chairman of Labour Party, LP, Favour Reuben, who addressed newsmen on behalf of other political parties, stated that other political parties that participated in the governorship election in the state congratulated Wike over his victory because “the election was free, fair and credible.”

Continuing, Reuben said should the Supreme Court order that the Rivers governorship election be conducted afresh, “the governorship candidates of all other parties that participated in the last governorship election, other than the APC, will step down for Wike of PDP.’’

While condemning the judgment of the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal delivered last Saturday, the parties said the judgment goes against the ruling of other petitions tribunals that dwelt on the use of the card-reader during the governorship elections.

Meanwhile, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, were not represented at the press conference.

Leaders of the 27 political parties, who admitted that the judiciary has so far been independent, warned that “some bad eggs should not be allowed to dent the image of the judiciary.

“Rivers State needs peace; Rivers State needs development. We don’t need this sort of distraction from the judiciary.

“Former Governor Rotimi Amaechi should allow Wike settle down and develop Rivers State. The state needs peace and only peace can bring development to the people. Everybody cannot be governor at the same time,” Reuben noted.