The chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Success Jack, has vowed that what transpired in 2023 when Peter Obi’s Labour Party (LP) lost the state to the All Progressives Congress APC will not repeat itself in 2027, stressing that votes must count this time around.

Jack, who spoke in Port Harcourt, said that the NDC was not intimidated by the recent comments made by Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja that Rivers will once again go to APC.

Recall that Wike claimed that the G-5, which he was the anchor man had adopted a political strategy that backed Obi’s support in some South-South states, but worked against his victory in Rivers for strategic reasons.

He also claimed that the G-5 worked against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South, which had always been favourable to the PDP.

Jack in reaction to Wike, said that the electoral environment had changed significantly since 2023, noting that whatever magic Wike wants to perform in 2027 will not work, stressing that results will be transmitted live from the polling units and make it difficult for whoever wants to manipulate the results.

The NDC chairman said that the electorate will resist any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 presidential election in the state, noting that voters would monitor their ballots and ensure that the results are transmitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, portal from the polling units.

Jack said: “What the Minister said doesn’t worry me a bit because the electoral system has changed. I heard of some magic they want to do, but I doubt if that will be possible.

“When people vote, they have to police it to make sure that it is transmitted at the polling units and then police it to make sure that it is transmitted at the local government collation centres,” Jack said.

“There are talks about using security agencies to intimidate voters, but I’m not sure that will work. I’m not sure that a security agent will come to one polling unit and kill everyone.

“Whatever the Minister said, I wish him well, but not in our Rivers State,” he said. (New Telegraph)