The PDP has won the four state assembly seats in the supplementary elections organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State last Saturday. Welcoming the results, Governor Nyesom Wike reiterated that his victory in the March 9 governorship election is for all Rivers people and a new beginning for the state.
INEC last Saturday conducted supplementary election for state assembly elections in four local government areas of the state. A statement issued by INEC listed the affected local government areas as Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Gokana and Opobo/Nkoro.
The election held in all the wards and polling units in Abua/Odual and Gokana local government areas, 20 polling units spread across four wards in Ahoada West, and 47 polling units spread across nine wards in Ahoada West.
INEC explained that in Abua/Odual, election did not take place during the March 9 governorship and State Assembly elections because INEC officials could not deploy men and materials because of violence. For Gokana, elections were disrupted and the commission could not collate results. In last Saturday’s supplementary election, the police deployed 3,066 personnel, complemented by personnel from other security agencies to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
In a statement yesterday, INEC said Mr. Sokolo Solomon of the PDP polled 55,944 to win in Abua/Odual. In Ahoada West, Mr. Okpokiri Nwanaka also of the PDP won having polled 32,574 votes; in Gokana, Mr. Dumle Maol of PDP won with 55,319 votes, while Mr. Adonye Diri of the PDP also won in Opobo/Nkoro having polled 7,713 votes.
Speaking during a family thanksgiving at the Salvation Ministries Headquarters in Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said despite the political turmoil, nobody lost during the elections. “Nobody has won and nobody has lost the elections. But Rivers State has won. I forgive anyone that has wronged me and I also ask for forgiveness from those that I have wronged,” he said.
He said he was in church to give thanks to God for his faithfulness in the face of fierce political battles during the general election. “We have come here to give God thanks because He is so faithful to us. We have come to thank God for the fight He fought on our behalf. It is only God who can fight for us. We have no power of our own to fight,” he stated.
He thanked the presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, for his spiritual support during the long-drawn political battle. Wike said even when he faltered in faith he was strengthened by the cleric with his confidence restored. The governor said that with what transpired during the political battle, it is obvious that truly Rivers is a Christian state.
Speaking at the thanksgiving service, Ibiyeomie prayed God to accept the governor’s thanksgiving and bless him. He said by the special thanksgiving, God would perfect everything that concerns Wike and his family. He decreed God’s wisdom on the governor, adding that God would grant him the enablement to lead the state in the right direction. Ibiyeomie said anyone planning evil against the governor would fall prey to his/her evil machinations.
