Governor Nyesom Wike “is wasting his time approaching the Supreme Court in his desperate bid to cling to a non-existing mandate as Rivers State governor,” the State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Sunday.

The party was responding to Wike’s disclosure that he has instructed his lawyers to proceed to the apex court to seek a reversal of Wednesday’s judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja upholding the October 24, 2015 judgment of the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Suleiman Ambrosa, which nullified the declaration of Wike as governor and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in the state within 90 days.

Rivers APC said in a statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and issued in Port Harcourt: “Chief Wike knows deep down in him that he did not win any election on April 11, 2015. He is only seeking to buy time by hopping from one court to the other in a doomed bid to avoid the inevitable, which is that his days as Care-taker Governor of Rivers State are drawing to an end. As a lawyer, we expect Wike to know that the Supreme Court cannot save him because he has no case. Common sense dictates that he should concentrate his energies on preparing for the fresh election ordered by the tribunal but, as the saying goes, common sense is not really common.”

The party reminded Wike that the Supreme Court had earlier ruled on appeal that he brought before it on the Rivers State election that indeed, “there was widespread violence during the election.” It advised Wike stop wasting his time and prepare for a re-run election that will enable the Rivers State to reclaim their State from his evil and maladministration of the state.

“This notwithstanding, Wike should remember his boast that ‘even if Ban Ki-Moqqon comes to conduct the election, I will still win,” the party said. According to it, “If this is the case, Wike should test his popularity and allow the Rivers State people to determine who governs them in a free and fair election void of intimidation and killings. Wike and his supporters are aware that if such an election takes place he will not win any Local Government Area in Rivers State.

“Though the entire world knew that there was no election in Rivers State as captured by the legendary Prof. Itse Sagay, ‘Everybody knew that Wike was not elected. Wike got into power through a brutal manner and I have never seen such brutal approach to power except through a coup. What Wike did was a bloody civilian coup, what he did was a big embarrassment to this country and if he had gotten away with it, I tell you that would have been the end to any type of free and fair elections in the South South’. So Wike should stop deceiving himself that he won any election that made him the Governor of Rivers State.”

Rivers APC commended the judiciary for once more proving to be the hope of the common man by dispensing justice without fear or favour. It appealed to Rivers people to endure the few remaining weeks of Wike’s maladministration while getting ready to reaffirm their choice of the APC candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, as their next governor.

Finally, the party urged the security organs “to investigate the death threat by Wike that the INEC officials that will conduct the rerun elections in Rivers State should write their will.” This plea, according to the party, becomes imperative to avoid further bloodbath in Rivers State because of election.

•Photo shows Governor Wike.

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