The Network of Democratic Watchdog of Nigeria, has cautioned the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to face the task of governing his state and desist from stirring trouble all over the country.
Briefing journalists, Monday the Coordinator of Democratic Watchdog of Nigeria, Comrade Chijioke Onyekaonwu lamented that Cross River North senatorial district election held on December 5th 2020 will stand out as dark era in the annals of election conduction in Nigeria.
He claimed that “the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) involvement and actions in the said election amounts to a total decampment from the electoral process and is nothing short of standing the electoral law on its head.
Onyekaonwu explained that PDP primaries held on November 5th according to the provisions of the electoral act. The party electorates voted overwhelmingly to elect Senator Stephen Adi Odey as winner. The closest runner up with a high ‘margin Hon Jarigbe Agom on sensing his loss walked away before the end of the election. His exit notwithstanding, the party concluded the primaries with Senator Stephen Adi Odeys declared winner and his name was duly submitted to INEC.
“Hon Jarigbe exercising his legal right, challenged the outcome of the primaries in a federal high court in Calabar and on December 3th 2020 the court struck out his claims as lacking merit. The INEC was compelled by this to issue Senator Adi Odey a form EC9 which he filled swore to and returned to INEC via the party, he said.
Onyekaonwu added that ” the intrigues and desperation of INEC and Hon Jarigbe did not end with the election as they in connivance with one chief John Alaga, a close friend of Hon Jarigbe who now filed an isolated matter in FCT high court Abuja purportedly to challenge the qualification of Hon Jarigbe whom he mischievously referred to as the winner of the primaries in the motion, stating that his certificates are questionable and as such not qualified to run for the election.
He continued “this unfolding comic drama being directed by the INEC chairman has in its characters a stranger with a strange interest, how else will one describe the sudden interest of Gov Onyesom Wike in the internal politics of Cross River North Senatorial district? The enormous size of blunder presently going on display is an indication that an equivalent size in sum is passing as bribe under the table.
” It is obvious where the funding for this democratic blunder is coming from. We are not unaware of the relationship between Gov Nyesom Wike and the INEC chairman dating back to many years of close affiliation. Wike should face the task of governing Rivers state and desist from stirring trouble all over the country just to fan his vice presidential ambitions. He has a right to aspire to any elective position but that will not be at the detriment of societal peace and collective interest of the country.
“The instrument which is being peddled by Hon Jarigbe is a strange court judgment obtained in an isolated matter between him and his friend chief alaga that has no relationship with the senatorial election won by Senator Stephen Odey or the primaries as conducted by the PDP for that election. The court order is obtained in a case between Hon Jarigbe and chief John Alaga without PDP or the election winner Senator Stephen Odey being joined as parties.
“There is no judgment or order of court issued by any court anywhere in Nigeria nullifying the position and candidacy of Senator stephen odey I challenge anyone to produce such order or judgment.
Onyekaonwu urge Senator Stephen Odey to disregard the distractions and actions of Hon Jarigbe and INEC and concentrate on his duty of giving the Cross river horth senatokl district the excellent representation they deserve.
