Rivers State deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Victor Giadom has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)to postpone the February 16 and March 2 elections in Rivers, following the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
He said Governor Nyesom Wike was jittery after confirming that APC candidates would participate in the elections.
Giadom, who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, boasted that all candidates of APC would be victorious in the elections.
He, however, maintained that postponing the election would ensure that no one was disenfranchised.
The Appellate Court, presided over by Justice Ali Gumel, granted a stay to Justice Kolawole Omotoso’s judgment on the fielding of candidates by AP in Rivers.
Giadom said: “Wike is jittery because of the strength of APC in Rivers State. That is why he teamed up with some enemies of democracy to ensure that our party is not on the ballot, but God has put them to shame.
“Wike and his allies must stop their propaganda and futile fight, but prepare to meet APC candidates in the field. APC will win 80 per cent of votes cast in Rivers State because the people are tired of Wike’s failed promises.
“I urge Rivers people to believe in APC because the difference is clear. We will continue to ensure quality leadership that will transform the state and ensure that lives and property are protected.â€
Giadom berated factional APC governorship aspirant, Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast), for misinterpreting the court judgment. He accused Abe of mischief.
According to him, Abe was being economical with the truth. He insisted Abe should not speak differently from the ruling.
But Commissioner for Information and Communications Emma Okah, who doubles as director of Information and Communications of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council, maintained that Wike and other candidates were neither afraid nor jittery having campaigned extensively, and were prepared for the polls.
But Abe urged Cole not to jubilate yet as his victory in the Appeal Court would not restore his name and that of others with him to the ballot papers, despite the granting of their request by the Appeal Court.
Abe, who spoke through his lawyer, Henry Bello, said even if the Court of Appeal granted the stay of execution to Justice Kolawole Omotoso’s order, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would not return their names and logo to the ballot papers until the October 10, 2018, High Court judgment is challenged and vacated.
He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Appeal Court has not set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court; what the judgment did was to stay execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court.
“However, the State High Court judgment of October 10, 2018, has not been stayed, it is still valid and subsisting. And as of today, APC has no candidate in Rivers State.â€
Source-thenationonlineng.net
