Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has emerged as the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for next year’s governorship election in the state.
Governor Wike emerged after three thousand three hundred and thirty-four delegates nominated him to bear the party’s flag at the primaries held at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike pledged to provide more democratic dividends for the people in his second tenure, while asking Rivers people to vote massively to return the PDP to power in 2019.
According to him, “In the past three and half years, we have experienced tremendous economic growth as a result of our investments in the security system which has attracted local and foreign investors.
“As a former council chairman, a former chief of staff and a former minister, I shall bring my experience to bear in the continued governance of the state.”
In the same vein, the All Progressive Congress in Rivers State have nominated Architect Tonye Cole as its flag bearer to contend with Governor Wike in the gubernatorial election.
Announcing the result after voting and collation at Igbo-Ukwu mini field, D-Line which ended about midnight, Chairman of the electoral panel, Lawan Isa announced Tonye Cole as the winner of the primaries after defeating three other aspirants including Senator Magnus Abe, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and Dawari George who came second.
The APC Governorship candidate, Cole in his acceptance speech said his mission was to change the negative narrative about Rivers State and attract development that will create jobs for Rivers people.
“We will embark on a reconciliation exercise with members of our APC family who in the process of electing flag bearers may have lost out and feel aggrieved by the process. They will be made welcome in the task or rebuilding Rivers State for the better.
“The damage to the ecology and economies of the riverine communities of this State, the pollution and loss of livelihood have to be addressed.
“In our government, everyone matters and we will do our best to bring in key segments of our people that we know are a critical factor in building great economies of the world. Women, People With Disabilities, the Aged, Teenagers and Students must have an increasingly visible role in how the future of the state is determined and their contribution to the GDP will not be ignored,” he said.
Meanwhile, DAILY POST reports that Senator Magnus Abe also emerged as the flag bearer of the parallel APC primary held in the State.
Senator Abe emerged from a direct primary conducted by another faction of the party led by Prince Odike, where he emerged as winner in the result announced by the returning officer and former Lawmaker, Sam Eligwe.
Earlier, one of the aspirants, Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs had called for the postponement of the primaries in Rivers state over allegations of obvious bias by the Ojukaye Flag Amachree-led APC.
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