All Progressive Congress, APC Thursday formerly elected Hon Dakuku Peterside as its standard bearer for the 2015 governorship election.
Chairman of the governorship election panel for the state, Prince Austin Eweka lauded the party in the state for making the job of his panel a very easy one with the earlier adoption of Hon Peterside as its consensus governorship candidate.
Describing the action of the party as a heathy dimension in political history in the country Primce Eweka said it brought harmony and peace among the party members in the state.
“The All Progressive Congress in the state have made our job very easy. What you have done in the state is a new dimension in our political history. It has brought peace, and harmony among party members. In some states there are about thirteen aspirants for the governorship primaries. Those of us from Abuja are so happy that the governor has taken the party to another level” , he said.
It would be recalled that the party’s caucus last week Wednesday adopted Hon Peterside as the consensus guber candidate for next year’s election.
Meantime,the party still went ahead to conduct primaries for its sole governorship aspirant Thursday. Chairman of the election panel, Prince Eweka while declaring Hon Peterside as the candidate of the party for next years governorship election at the end of the election said 3,914 delegates voted for him but the valid votes were 3773 while 140 votes were voided.
“it is my honour to announce to you that Hon Dakuku Adol Peterside has been duly elected as our flag bearer “, he said.
Senator Magnus Abe who was rumoured to be nursing governorship ambition on the platform of the party was absent at the primaries.
Earlier,State leader of the party, governor Chibuike Amaechi urged the party and people of the state to vote for the party, noting that the party had programs to redress challenges facing the country. “This is an opportunity to ensure we will not suffer anymore. This is our opportunity to vote our party.”, he said.
The governor who said Senator Abe was also eminently qualified to be governor of the state poured encomiums on his deputy, Engr Tele Ikiru for being by him in the heat of his political travails
“Senator Magnus Abe is eminently qualified to be our governor. He is a very intelligent man, there are two Nigerians I respect for their intelligence, Senator Magnus Abe and Odein Ajumogobia. I told Magnus that he is eminently qualified to be governor in the same manner I told them that my Deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru is eminently qualified. I trust him, my Deputy”, he said.
Governor Amaechi said for sake of equity the party decided that its governorship ticket should go to Rivers South east senatorial district. “The caucus decided we should present Hon Dakuku Peterside. It does not mean that he is more qualified than others. But somebody has to carry our flag”, he added.
Governor Amaechi who expressed hope that Dakuku would sustain the legacies of his administration if elected governor also lashed at the federal government for allegedly ceding some oil wells belonging to the state to Bayelsa and Abia states.
The governor also explained that his loyalists in the state House of Assembly had to be returned back in the House of Assembly primaries as a way to reward their loyalty. “We are rewarding those who stood by us in the House of Assembly. This is a way to pay them back”, he said.
Amaechi further called for a free and fair election, adding that his administration would fix the deplorable Creek road in Town and bad roads in Oyigbo local government area.
“I am aware some roads are bad. There is no money but we will fix the roads in Oyigbo. I have released money for them. We will also fix Creek road
In his acceptance speech, Hon Peterside thanked the party for choosing him, assuring that if elected he would pursue the party’s manifesto.,”I will peruse the manifesto of our great party with all my youthful vigour, talent, support and the guidance of our elders”, he assured.
While promising to unveil his comprehensive program for the state Peterside said he would also promote the unity of the state.
