2023 Presidency: I Never Told Rivers People To Vote For Tinubu — Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has stated that he never instructed the people of the region to vote for the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

The clarification is in response to the allegations of rigging and Labour Party's Peter Obi's reported comment on Wike going against him in the 2023 presidential election.

While addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Wednesday, Wike said that his state is only concerned about power shifting to the south.

Denying the rigging allegations, he added that Obi's remark shows that he is not insincere and unappreciative.

According to the governor, his people did what he told them to do, which was voting for someone for a southern candidate.

“I never told Rivers people to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu but for the unity of Nigeria.

“As far as Rivers State is concerned, it was a power shift to the South.

“And there are two candidates from the South, Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, so If the majority of Rivers people decided to vote for Tinubu and others for Peter Obi, that tells you the decision of the citizens.

“How can you talk about me rigging the election? I don’t work as ad-hoc staff for Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, so I am not in the place to rig elections for anybody.

“When you have INEC’s materials, you can talk about rigging.

“But I take exemption to Peter Obi’s comment that I came out against him, people are not being sincere and appreciative.

“In 2019, I was among the people who chose Peter Obi for Atiku Abubakar.

“I was faulted for the choice, people like Ike Ekweremadu and my friend, the Governor of Ebonyi State and Pius Ayim.

“Every blame was on me; that why would I be the one to choose for the Southeast?

“Did he come out to say I supported him?

“I told Nigerians I will support a South candidate in the Presidential Election.

“When Peter Obi says I was against him, it is unfortunate because nobody ever told me that I campaigned against him.

“It is incorrect to say I was against him.

“I told my people to support a southern candidate, which they did; the first position in Rivers State during the poll was a south candidate, same with the second position", he stated.