…Picks retired Perm Sec as running mate
By: Felix Ikpotor
Former lawmaker representing Rivers South East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe has been elected as the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Rivers State.
Abe was declared winner during a Substitution Primaries conducted by the party in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, senior officer, Pastor Emmanuel Isong and other representatives from the Department of State Security Service, DSS and the Nigeria Police Force.
Port Harcourt Spectator reports that INEC, had earlier in it’s publication, published the name of Honourable Moris Pronen as the gubernatorial candidate of the party.
Chairman of SDP Substitution Electoral Committee, Alhaji Muhammed Ibrahim while declaring Abe as the winner of the election having pulled 30 votes, advised members of the party to go out and get their permanent voters card, PVC, to participate in the general elections.
“Today, we have elected a credible candidate for the governorship election in Rivers state. Let me thank all of you for conducting yourselves peacefully and for electing a very popular candidate in the person of Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe as the governorship candidate of the party for Rivers state.
“For those of you who are yet to register and collect your PVCs, please ensure that you do so before the expiration of the deadline as slated by INEC. I am very confident that with a quality candidate like Senator Magnus Abe, SDP will become the ruling party in Rivers state come 2023,” he said.
In his solidarity message, a former member of the House of Representatives and a leader of Rivers State chapter of SDP, Elder Chidi Wihioka thanked INEC for its effort in ensuring that elections in Nigeria were free, fair and credible.
the former federal lawmaker noted that with what transpired in Osun State governorship election recently, Nigerians are confident that their votes would count.
“I was INEC Electoral Commissioner some years ago. I can tell you that INEC is doing a good work right now.
“INEC has now given Nigerians a high hope that their votes will count going forward. Thuggery during elections will now become a thing of the past. With Magnus Abe as the governorship candidate of our great party, SDP, there is no doubt that we will have a nice outing in 2023,” Wihioka said.
Also speaking, a former Commissioner for Power in the administration of former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi , Hon Augustine Wokocha commended the delegates at the election and promised that Rivers people would witnessed a new era in the government of Magnus Abe.
Wokocha who is and now a commissioner in the Federal Character Commission said, “Abe is a model. SDP will now become a state party. With Abe as a governor in 2023, Rivers State will be free from despots. As you can see, the process was very transparent and free. Abe has a solid structure from the state to local government and even the ward levels. He is a man that is loved by the people”, he said.
On his part, the Rivers State Chairman of SDP, Hon Solsuema Osaro expressed confidence that the candidature of Abe would make SDP a party to beat in the state in 2023.
“I am very confident that with Abe as our candidate, Rivers state belongs to SDP,” he said.
Responding onbehalf of Senator Abe, his running mate, Princess Patricia Ogbonnaya, a retired permanent secretary from the state civil service thanked the party and delegates for the great honour to lead the party in the forthcoming elections.
“On behalf of our candidate, Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe, I thank you for this great honour and promise that with all the capacity God has given us, we will work to make the party successful in the coming election”, she said.
