Governor Nyesom Wike has clarified that the Rivers State government cancelled approval given for the use of Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in order to safeguard the facility from being vandalised.
It would be recalled that on Wednesday Governor Wike shocked the Atiku Abubakar camp of the PDP when he announced the cancellation of the hitherto approved sports complex for the presidential campaign in the state.
The governor gave the clarification at the flag-off rally of the Rivers State PDP campaign for Degema Local Government Area that was held at Agri Field in Degema town on Thursday.
Governor Wike described the claim that Rivers State government does not want PDP Presidential Campaign Council to campaign in the state as erroneous, since the state had earlier given approval to the party to use the Stadium at no cost.
“Don’t say we stopped them from holding a rally, we didn’t. They applied to me and I gave (Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium) to them. They now went back and began to meet with the faction of the opposition, and you know that the opposition has never held any rally without violence.
“And I said I cannot joke with Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium. Since we have this intelligence, we will not allow it. Did anybody force us to give them before? Are we not the ones who gave them? Did they pay money? Go and see the place. I know they are happy because they know there is no way they can fill that stadium. Instead of them to say thank God for covering our shame.”
He declared that the unit-by-unit mobilisation of voters adopted by the PDP in the State is one of the strategies that will make it difficult for security agencies to rig the 2023 general election in the state.
The governor maintained that the electorate will participate in the forthcoming election with unit-by-unit mobilisation, which will ensure that every vote counts.
Because people will vote, governor Wike insisted that security agencies would find it difficult to rig elections in which the voters will be mindful to protect their votes.
“This election is going to be by mobilisation. It’s not like before when anybody will go and bring soldiers to carry election materials. Now, the election will be based on physical human beings. Votes must count now.”
Governor Wike also said that his administration has delivered several development projects in the area in appreciation of the support the Degema people have given to the PDP since 1999.