Nyesom Wike faces Tonye Cole in battle for Rivers
John Amieyeofori/Port Harcourt
Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers secured a second term ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday. He faces billionaire Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress in the electoral battle for the state’s government house.
Both candidates emerged from the primaries of their parties.
Wike thanked the delegates for electing him and promised not to disappoint the people for placing their confidence in him.
The governor recounted his achievements since 2015, among which was that he upgraded educational facilities in the state to raise the standard of education. He also said his government had upgraded facilities at the hospitals.
The 2019 governorship candidate for the PDP stressed that his administration had improved the security architecture in the State to attract investors.
He said that the government had made Rivers a regional Judicial hub by the rehabilitation of a Federal High court, an Appeal Court and the construction of a National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt.
Describing Rivers as one of the safest States in Nigeria, he noted that the reason was the massive investments he provided for the security agencies to fight crime in the state.
‘’ In the past three and half years, we have experienced tremendous economic growth as a result of our investments in the security system which has attracted local and foreign investors,’’ he added.
‘’ As a former council Chairman, a former Chief of Staff and a former Minister, I shall bring my experience to bear in the continued governance of the state,’’ Wike said.
The Chairman of the Electoral Panel and the Returning Officer of the PDP primary elections, Mr Chukwuma Chinwe, said 3,490 voters were accredited for the primary.
He noted that of the 3,490 total votes, 3,345 voted in favour of Wike as the candidate for the PDP Governorship elections in 2019 , with nine voided votes.
‘’ By the power conferred on me by the PDP and the electoral guidelines for the conduct of the PDP Governorship Primary, I hereby declare Gov Wike as the winner of the PDP primary elections,’’ he said.
