Wike says Council Election holds in 2018, outlines criteria for Chairmanship

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has advised members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspiring to hold any political office, especially the Chairmanship position to have a rethink about their ambition if they lack the qualities he is looking for.

Wike warned that there would be no godfatherism in the process because there must be proper primaries to pick the best candidate for the position.

He reiterated that he emerged as the best Local Government chairman and won all the laurels during the Peter Odili Administration, which gave him an edge over other Chairmen in the country, as he was made the National President and subsequently became the only Chairman to represent Africa in the Executive committee of the Common Wealth of Local Government, because according to him, “performance does not hide”.

He stated that the emergence of the chairmanship candidate will depend on these critical factors ” the candidates must be prepared to contest and also have the support of the citizens from his local government area, which will guarantee victory for PDP in 2019″.

He words: ” I believe by the grace of God that we are going in for the Local Government Election.  I don’t know when yet, but I have told the RSIEC, that is why it is budgeted for in 2018 budget. That is where you would see democracy thrive.

“Now, why do i say so? You must show me, you must prove that you have what it takes in the community,  that in the local government you have the grassroot support.  Because why am I saying that? Security people should not rig the election”.

He expressed optimism that President Muhammadu Buhari will ensure a free and fair election holds, having been a beneficiary himself. “Now that it is his (Buhari’s ) turn to conduct election, supervise, we will not have a situation where leaders are being eliminated in the night, where EFCC are coming to carry people”, he opined.

He however,  accused security operatives and officials of the Independent National  Electoral Commission,  INEC, of allegedly colluding with politicians to rig elections and urged them to desist from such actions in 2019 in the interest of the citizens.