Rift between the former Governor of Rivers State, Mr Chibuike Amaechi and his successor, Mr Nyesom Wike, is deepening, even as the electoral body tries to conclude legislative elections in some local councils.
Both Amaechi and Wike have traded blames and have made daunting allegations against each other, which critics said were capable of heating up the polity at a time of election.
Mr Amaechi, who is now the Minister of Transport in oil rich Nigeria, on Sunday reacted to allegations by Governor Wike that his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), was using delayed tactics to tamper with the results in areas where candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (Wike’s political party) were in the clear lead.
In a statement Amaechi’s spokesman, said that apart from the fact that was not aware of what the governor of rivers state is talking about,
It says Governor Wike must allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to collate and announce results of the rerun elections.
“As governor, Wike cannot be INEC or dictate to INEC how and when to announce election results. It is sad that Wike is desecrating the office of the governor with all his spurious allegations,” the statement further read.
Governor Wike had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with with the conduct of the legislative re-run election.
He told Channels Television that the collated results were being manipulated in favour of the opposition political party.
He had claimed that strong effort was made to upturn the results already won by candidates of the PDP.
He expressed worry over Rivers East, Rivers West, Andoni and Opobo Nkoru Federal Constituencies, where he said his party’s candidates were set to sweep the polls.
Although the army has since denied involvement in the process, the governor insisted there were video evidences.
Rift between the former Governor and his successor was also seen few days ago when Mr Amaechi accused Governor Wike and his political party, the PDP, of being behind killings in Rivers State.
Mr Amaechi claims that Mr Wike could not deny his involvement and sponsorship of the killing of innocent Rivers people and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections and the March 19 re-run elections in the state.
Cache Of Arms And Ammunitions
The former governor made the allegations while addressing reporters at the Port Harcourt International Airport on arrival in the State for Saturday’s re-run legislative elections.
He said the cache of arms and ammunitions Mr Wike recovered from cultists during the first phase of the Rivers State Amnesty Programme was evidences to buttress his allegations.
“Wike has not denied he did not kill people. He sponsored those who carried arms in the 2015 general elections.
“Even, during the campaigns, our people were beaten, manhandled and others threatened, leaving many dead. But we will not continue to allow these things to happen like that. Members of the PDP were also responsible for killing APC members in Omoku,” Mr Amaechi, who is now the the Minister of Transportation, told reporters.
