Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has denied making inciting statements ahead of the March 19 state and National Assembly rerun elections in the state.
The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress had accused the governor of making provocative statements, adding that Wike specifically warned those coming to conduct the election to write their will if they were coming to rig the forthcoming polls.
But Wike, who spoke while inaugurating the first phase of the Nkpogu Road in Port Harcourt on Thursday, explained that his call for a free and fair election was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on credible election.
He said, “Some people say that I am making inciting statements. I have never made any inciting statement. But I have always said the truth. President Buhari has also said that one of the ways Nigeria will be respected is for the country to always conduct a free and fair election. For us in this administration, we are supporting a free and fair election.
“Instead of them to praise me that I am supporting what the President said, they said I am making inciting statements. We will not allow anybody to rig; we must protect our votes. It is for us to reclaim our mandate and protect what we have and this is the opportunity to tell Nigerians that we never made a mistake last time. We will repeat the victory on March 19.”
In his remark, the chairman of the firm that handled the project, Senator John Mbata, promised that his company would continue to collaborate with the government with a view to developing the state.
Commending the state government for patronising indigenous companies, Mbata explained that the reconstructed Nkpogu Road would reduce traffic congestion within Port Harcourt.
