The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the All Progressives Congress of destroying key national institutions in the country.
Wike also said the Independent National Electoral Commission has become a rigging machine.
Wike, who spoke on Sunday at a Thanksgiving Service for the sacked Senator George Sekibo at the St Thomas Anglican Church in Diobu, said Rivers East Senatorial District remains without a senator.
Sekibo was sacked from the National Assembly by the Court of Appeal last week.
According to him, the Court of Appeal judgment, which led to the loss of Rivers East Senatorial District mandate by the Peoples Democratic Party, on which platform Sekibo was elected, is a fallout of the “unfortunate illegal alliance between the police and INEC”.
He said the APC tendered results certified by the Police to the tribunal, which the tribunal relied on, rather than results declared by INEC on election day.
He said incidentally, both results had the same serial numbers, which showed the fraud by the two institutions.
Wike said: “Instead of bringing change as they promised, things are getting worse.
“They have introduced extreme fraud in the country, especially denying the people their mandate.”
Wike added that nobody should be afraid of the Police and Army in defence of his mandate in 2019.
He said: “Nobody should be afraid of the Police or Army because liberty comes with a price.
“They have nothing to campaign with outside the use of security.
“I am ready to place myself on the line.
“Nobody will take Rivers State.”
On why he was a part of the welcome party that received President Muhammadu Buhari as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on the President’s return from a 104-day medical vacation in the United Kingdom, Wike said he was there “because the President is for all Nigerians, irrespective of political parties”.
He, however, said he would continue to disagree with policies of the Federal Government, especially the alleged faulty fight against corruption.
Sekibo said he received unflinching support from Wike and Ikwerre people all through his political struggle.
He said there was no Ikwerre agenda in his ouster from the Senate.
Sekibo said: “If it was an Ikwerre agenda, it would have been displayed at the point of voting.
“At the tribunal, those who took away the mandate were not Ikwerre people.”
Venerable Richard Okpara urged judicial officers to use their constitutional powers for the good of the country.
Okpara also called on the Federal Government to learn to accommodate all political interests, saying the political space should not be overheated.
He said: “We must learn to blend for the good of the nation.
“We must be careful not to heat the polity.
“Variety is the spice of life, monotony kills interest.”
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