Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to make Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State a model.
Wike, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council for the poll, spoke during a live television programme in Port Harcourt.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, quoted the governor as saying that the outcome of the election would provide hope for 2023 general election.
He said: “Everyone that loves this country should ensure that tomorrow’s election is credible, free and fair.
“The police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should show Nigerians that they can support credible elections.
“INEC should ensure that result sheets are not in the hands of individuals. Security agencies should not whisk away collation officers and later bring them back with cooked results.
“Manipulation of the electoral process causes violence. No politician will cause violence if the police and INEC do not compromise.”
Wike said there would be a high turnout of voters tomorrow because the people were prepared to end ‘godfatherism’.
He said he carried out an independent assessment of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s achievements and was satisfied that he would win the election convincingly.
The Rivers governor said no amount of money or intimidation would make the people not to vote massively for Obaseki.
He enjoined the people to be vigilant and protect their votes “because enemies of the state are planning to truncate your will.”
“The agenda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to win at all cost, for us to go to the tribunal. This is why Edo people must be vigilant.
“I hail the United States and the United Kingdom for the visa ban placed on election riggers.
“They should publish their names so that a lot of things will change in our electoral process.
“Election rigging is worse than armed robbery. So whatever sanctions that can be imposed will be welcomed by the PDP,” Wike said.