Wike gets Rivers PDP nomination as guber candidate

Rivers Governor, Nyesom  Wike casting his vote during the Rivers State PDP Governorship Primary at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt on Sunday 

The Rivers Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) has  nominated Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to fly her flag for the 2019 Governorship Election. 

In a peaceful 2018 PDP State Congress at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt on Sunday, party delegates unanimously voted for Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike who was the only  candidate on the ballot.

Chief Returning Officer for the Rivers State PDP Governorship Primary, Mr Chuma Chinye announced that the governor polled 3345 Delegate Votes from the 23 Local Government Areas of the state. 

The voting  process was  kick-started by National PDP Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who was a statutory delegate from Andoni  Local Government Area. 

Governor Wike then voted, followed by other statutory delegates before they were joined by other delegates in alphabetical order. 

Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah stated that the nomination of Governor Wike followed due process and a sign of the support of Rivers people for him.

The Rivers State Governorship Primary was kick-started via a motion for  the constitution of the 2018 Special Congress by Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Austin Opara and seconded by  Rivers State Women Affairs Commissioner, Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri. 

Accepting the nomination of the Rivers PDP, Governor Wike declared that the party is ready to run the 2019 Governorship Election and emerge victorious in the process. 

He declared: "We are prepared for the election in 2019. Let nobody make a mistake that what happened in Osun and  Ekiti States will happen in Rivers State. 

"We are ready to follow them to any level that they want".

Governor Wike urged party faithful to begin a process of canvassing for votes across the state, warning the people of the consequences of voting APC, a party he said is steeped in darkness and doom.

He stated that following  due consultation, he will run for the 2019 Governorship Election with his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo. 

The governor stated that he has the experience, training and commitment  to consolidate on the gains of his first term, since he will not be learning  on the job.

He said: "In seeking to return as governor, I am not coming to learn on the job, I have the experience, intellect and commitment to drive the state forward.

"With my background, I will not be offering excuses. I will continue working from day one of my second term.  Rivers State is working".

He noted that in the last three and half years, his administration has achieved inspiring projects that have improved the living condition of the people, while more projects are on-going.

"The progress of this state in the last three and half years is appreciated in the country and across the globe. 

"That is why I feel confident to ask for  a second term.  There is more work to be done across the state", he said.

Governor Wike said despite the woeful failure of the immediate past APC administration in the state, his administration has been able to  make outstanding achievements in the areas of infrastructure, healthcare delivery, access to justice, education, security and special projects. 

"The immediate past APC administration failed woefully to provide basic infrastructure, health facilities and education.  We met a state that was not led in the right direction. 

"This state is now being led in the right direction with massive infrastructural development in place", he said.