Rivers State governor, Barr Nyesom Wike has vowed to treat like a political armed robber, any official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who colludes to rig the forthcoming rerun election in the states, urging such officials to first make their final will.

Wike made this known yesterday while speaking during an interdenominational ‘Thanksgiving and Victory Celebration’ of the historic Supreme Court verdict that validated his election, where said he stood for a free and fair rerun elections in Rivers State,

The governor whose election victory was recently validated by the Supreme Court after it was challenged by the state opposition, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dakuku Peterside, also reacted to the recent invasion of Ogoni land and the killing of indigenes by suspected soldiers saying that desperation for power led to the killing of Ogoni people via an ill-fated military operation in Yeghe community in the state.

He said his administration would stand firm to protect the Ogoni people, saying that only those in support of ‘political armed robbery’ will kick against his declaration insisting that those who plan to rig election in the state will be resisted.

The governor said he stood for free and fair rerun elections in Rivers State, warned that nobody would be allowed to subvert the mandate of the people with the use of the military, noting that it is the responsibility of INEC to conduct credible rerun elections.

“Let me reiterate, if any INEC officer is bent on rigging the rerun elections, let him first tell his wife and children where his will is located because he will be treated as a political armed robber.

“Popularity is tested on the ground. It is not by carrying soldiers around to intimidate voters. As your governor, I don’t carry soldiers around. How can a politician be campaigning with soldiers?” he queried.

According to Wike, no matter the number of soldiers introduced in Rivers State, the people will protect their votes and the PDP will emerge victorious in all the rerun elections.

“I will continue to threaten political armed robbers. I will stand firm against those who use guns to steal votes”.

Governor Wike who led the congregation to observe a minute silence for those killed by the army during the ill-fated operation in Ogoni land on Monday and Tuesday, announced that the Rivers State Government would cater for the needs of the widows, their children and all the loved ones of those who lost their lives.

Also speaking at the event, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State accused President Muhammadu Buhari of plotting to make Nigeria become a full Islamic nation.

The governor who described himself as the biblical Peter, the Rock which cannot be harmed by anyone, announced to the reveling audience that he had a secret he would like to reveal to them about the Buhari-led APC government.

Fayose said “They have started subtle moves to make Nigeria an Islamic nation but God will stop them. This was done in 1984, it failed, and it would fail again. Why did five of them go to Saudi Arabia to wait for our man there (referring to President Buhari and state governors), if they don’t have agenda.

“The agenda is coming small, small, but we will resist it. Nigeria is a free nation where we proclaim the name of Jesus Christ freely, and we believe in Allah for those who are Muslims. This nation will not be taken for an Islamic nation”.

•Photo shows Governor Wike.

Update news