Wike: I Was Never in Doubt of Losing My Reelection Because Rivers People Didn’t Know My Opponent

• Wike wonders how Awara whom he never never knew till a few days to the election win the poll.

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that he never knew the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) Biokpomabo Awara, until a few days to the governorship election in March 2019.

Wike who stated that he never doubted that the Supreme Court would confirm his reelection since Awara couldn’t have won an election he (Awara) didn’t contest said from the beginning, the AAC candidate never posed any problem to him because he (Awara) was unknown to Rivers people.

Speaking in Port Harcourt over the Supreme Court ruling that affirmed his reelection, the governor said he only got to know of Awara about two days to the election.

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While stating that he expected the confirmation because the law is clear, Wike said Awarame never contested any election; so, he couldn’t have won.

“It is so painful, but what do you do? It is part of life; if he really ran in the election with me, one can say there could be a problem.

“A man that I never knew till a few days to the election; how would it have been that the man won the election? So, I expected that the court would do the right thing, which they did.”

Tribunal judgements

In a judgment delivered by a panel of three Justice, the apex court upheld Wike’s appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal which reinstated the petition of the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara.

It could be recalled that the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal had earlier in October dismissed  Awara’s petition, declaring Wike winner of the poll. This was later challenged by the AAC candidate at the Court of Appeal.

Reacting to the judgement, Awara, in a statement he issued and signed personally thanked the Rivers state people for the opportunity given to him.

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He, however, alleged that some of his party members worked for the reelection of Wike.

“Some party men with unholy and unpatriotic desires clothed with tainted hands overtly worked for Governor Wike at the tribunal and all through the Appeal process”.