2023 Elections in Rivers Dominated by Anti-Party Activities – Abe

Senator Magnus Abe has disclosed that the 2023 general elections in Rivers State were marred by extensive anti-party activities affecting various political organizations.

While addressing attendees at a civic reception organized by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for political stakeholders in Rivers State this past Friday in Port Harcourt, Abe stated that such actions were motivated by the self-serving interests of politicians, including himself.

Abe, who represented the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the governorship race in Rivers State, confessed to obstructing the then-presidential candidate of the SDP from campaigning within the state due to his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at that time.

He pointed fingers at prominent figures such as Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former Governor Nyesom Wike, and leaders from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC in Rivers State for engaging in anti-party practices during the electoral process.

Abe questioned the disproportionate criticism directed at Wike’s anti-party actions, which he attributed to the success of Wike’s strategies during the elections.

He recounted the events of 2015, when certain politicians in the state secured a court injunction in Imo State to block the power transition from former Governor Rotimi Amaechi to Nyesom Wike, stating he had advised Amaechi against such maneuvers to preserve his legacy in the state.

In his remarks to Governor Fubara, Abe warned that many current supporters might merely be pursuing their individual political ambitions.