Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike warned that the people of his state would not vote for a presidential candidate who might threaten his life if elected. Speaking at an Obio‑Akpor LGA campaign rally organized by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday, Wike said the electorate would choose candidates who promote unity, fairness and equity. He also praised governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) for supporting a power shift to the South.
“We are going to vote for the unity of Nigeria, for equity, fairness and justice,” Wike declared. “I salute the APC governors who say that for this country to be united and to move forward as one, there is a need for power to shift.” He added that Rivers voters would support those who have the state’s interests at heart and dismissed the notion that the state’s vote count alone should dictate political outcomes. “From ward to ward in our local governments, they will tell you what we have decided. If you want me to survive politically, follow the way we are going,” he said.
Wike warned against backing candidates who threaten his safety, asking, “Will you allow them to kill me? Will you vote for those who do not want us to exist? Are you sure?” He did not name any specific presidential contender.
Alongside four other PDP governors—Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu—Wike has repeatedly called for the resignation of PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu as a condition for supporting the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The governors argue that the national chairman and the presidential candidate should not both come from the North.
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