Wike finally receives certificate of return

Nyesom Wike

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday presented the certificate of return to the re-elected Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.

Wike was declared winner of the election on April 3 after the commission said he polled 886,264 votes to defeat his closest rival, Biokpomabo Awara of African Alliance Congress (AAC) who scored 173,859 votes.

National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, May Agbamuche-Mbu, presented the certificate to Wike who was accompanied by his wife, Eberechi Nyesom-Wike. 

Wike dedicated his victory to Rivers people who overwhelmingly voted for him and to those killed during the election.

He said: “Today, I dedicate this victory to the people of Rivers State.  I also dedicate this victory to those killed by the Nigerian Army in defence of votes and democracy. But for their sacrifice, we would not be here.”

He rebuked the Nigerian Army saying: “The duty of the army is not to take over INEC office and carry out collation. We saw the army take over INEC functions and that of the police. Go to Bori camp, you will see INEC materials. Is it where it is supposed to be? But for God, we wouldn’t have been here. All powers came, but God intervened and that’s why we are here.” 

He promised to embark on more projects in his second term.