TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called on Rivers people to remain calm as the success of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 9 governorship election would be a sweet in the end.

Governor Wike said that the will of Rivers people would prevail at the end of the day, despite the conspiracy against the people of the state.

 He spoke when members of the National Assembly elected on the platform of the PDP presented their Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Certificates-of-Return to him at a ceremony in the Government House, Port Harcourt.

 He said: “I know that PDP won the elections squarely. We believe in peace, therefore, Rivers people should remain calm. We believe in due process. I believe that INEC is doing their best to follow the due process.

 “In the end, it will be a sweet victory. The will of Rivers people will prevail,” he said.

 Governor Wike described the entire political standoff as a drama, which would end. He said Rivers people voted overwhelmingly for the PDP in all elections, while the anti-democratic forces attempted to snatch results at the collation centres.

 “Let me thank the people of Rivers State for the love they have shown for our great party. It is not in doubt that Rivers people have shown our party love. What is happening is sad. It is a drama.

“We have 13 House of Representatives seats and the PDP clinched all of them. We have three Senate seats, one has been declared and PDP won. When the remaining  two seats are declared, PDP will win them. Eighty percent of the seats declared, PDP took all.

 “You begin to wonder why any right  thinking person would say that PDP lost the governorship election. Not that they say PDP lost to a party with a known logo, or even if you have seen the candidate one day in your life or seen his posters to make people vote for the candidate.  For us, it is a drama. PDP won the election squarely,” he said.

 He said that across the 4,442 polling units of Rivers State, the people voted for the PDP in all the elections.

 He said: “Across 4,442 polling units, the results are there. The PDP won in all these areas.

 “Not when you hijack results at the collation centre. When you hijack Form EC 8C, you forget that there is Form EC 8A. Any other party can win in any other state, but not in Rivers State.

 “I dedicate this victory to God and the good people of Rivers State, who stood firm and said that nobody can manipulate their mandate,” he said.

 Governor Wike urged the elected National Assembly members to always place the interest of the state above other considerations as they represent Rivers.

 The governor said all those who plotted the killings of Rivers people because of their desperation to clinch power will face the consequences of their actions.

 Speaking on behalf of the elected National Assembly members,  Senator-elect, Barry Mpigi, said there was no need for anyone to panic  as Governor Wike would be declared  winner in line with the votes cast on March 9.

 He said Rivers people were with Governor Wike as shown by their votes in all the polling units.

 He said that Rivers people had shown that they love PDP and that the PDP  has shown that it is the party on the ground  in the state.

 “We have looked round the 23 local government areas and we have seen that the people of Rivers State voted for you. Don’t panic, the vindication  will come at the appropriate time,” Mpigi said.

 Rivers State PDP chairman, Felix Obuah, said that the elected members  of the National Assembly were at the Government House, Port Harcourt, as a mark of respect  for Governor Wike and in recognition of his support all through  the electioneering process.