Rivers NDC Chair has warned Wike against manipulation of 2027 Presidential Election.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Success Jack, has warned that any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 presidential election in the state will be resisted.
Jack made the statement while reacting to recent comments by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who said members of the defunct G-5 Governors deliberately stopped Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi from winning Rivers State during the 2023 election.
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Wike, in a recent interview, said the G-5 had allowed Obi to win in some South-South states as part of a strategy to prevent Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar from securing the region’s votes. He said Rivers was treated differently because of the political implications of an Obi victory in the state.
Reacting to the development, Jack said Wike’s comments would not intimidate the NDC ahead of the 2027 election, arguing that Nigeria’s electoral process had changed since 2023.
He said voters would be expected to protect their ballots and monitor the transmission and collation of results.
“What the Minister said doesn’t worry me a bit because the electoral system has changed. I heard of some magic they want to do, but I doubt if that will be possible.
“When people vote, they have to police it to make sure that it is transmitted at the polling units and then police it to make sure that it is transmitted at the local government collation centres.”
Jack also dismissed concerns about possible intimidation of voters by security personnel, saying such actions would face resistance from voters.
“There are talks about using security agencies to intimidate voters, but I’m not sure that will work. I’m not sure that a security agent will come to one polling unit and kill everyone,” he said.
He added: “Whatever the Minister said, I wish him well, but not in our Rivers State.”
Wike’s latest comments represent a further explanation of the G-5 governors’ strategy during the 2023 presidential election. The group comprised Wike and former governors Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The 2027 presidential election is expected to generate renewed political activity in Rivers State, with parties and political groups already positioning themselves ahead of the poll.
