Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers, has promised to lead the party’s campaign for the re-run legislative elections in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission said it had tentatively fixed February 6 for the elections.
Elections will be held in the three Senatorial Districts, 11 House of Representatives Seats and 22 of the 32 state assembly seats.
Peterside disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting of the party in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
“I will be in every local government and villages to campaign for our candidates. I want to assure you that we shall not lose one seat.
“All you need to do as stakeholders and supporters is to do your part. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to provide a level playing ground for all parties,’’ he said.
Mr. Peterside said the APC would prove to the world that it was the popular party that the people want in the state.
He urged leaders and members of the APC to put behind the loss of the governorship case at the Supreme Court and work for the party’s victory.
Magnus Abe, the APC candidate for Rivers South-East Senatorial District, said the Supreme Court took its decision on the law and as democrats and Nigerians, the party was bound by it.
Mr. Abe said the court was the apex court in the land and members of APC were bound to accept its decision as democrats and progressives that believe in the rule of law.
“If we will not submit to the jurisdiction of the courts, we will not have filed the case. We give God glory and we accept the judgment of the court.
“The Supreme Court decided the case on the law, it was a legal decision, it is not necessarily the decision of Rivers people but we are bound by that decision,’’ Mr. Abe said.
The former lawmaker thanked God that same judicial process had given Rivers people the opportunity to make their own decision.
“The decision of the people will not be based on the law, it will be based on the prime principle of democracy which is a decision of the majority.
“The case in the Supreme Court between PDP and APC was decided on the law but the case in the polling units will be decided by Rivers people,’’ he said.
Mr. Abe commended Mr. Peterside for fighting a good fight for the party and the people of the state.
“I thank you for the statement that you released on behalf of us. It was wise, principled, democratic, fair and right,’’ Mr. Abe added.
Davies Ikanya, the state Chairman of APC, urged the people that defected to the party not to worry because they took the right decision.
“The decision to join APC is a right decision as it was not based on any court ruling. It is based on your conviction that APC is where to be for Rivers people.
“I congratulate you all for joining the party to fight a good course and I know that more people will join us to fight and liberate the state,’’ Mr. Ikanya said.
Mr. Ikanya said the APC would continue to mobilise more people to join it to win all the legislative seats in the rerun elections.
He said the party was peace loving and very much interested in the development of the state.
The state APC women leader, Caroline Nagbo, assured all the candidates that the women would not disappoint them as they would mobilise and vote for APC.
Ms. Nagbo urged the women to remain steadfast and focused. (NAN)
