Election: Ondo is not Rivers, Akeredolu tells Wike

The Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has warned his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, to steer clear of the October 10 governorship election in the state.

Wike had on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday declared that Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party will win the Ondo Governorship election.

The Rivers governor claimed that the All Progressives Congress was putting INEC under pressure to win the poll for Akeredolu, having lost in Edo State.

However, Akeredolu, who spoke through the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogor, said there would not be any room for Wike to influence the process of the October 10 election.

He said, “In all aspects, Governor Wike deserves respect not just as governor but as a critical stakeholder in the democratic journey. He has his inalienable rights as a citizen to express his mind and make comments about whatever he feels strongly about.

“However, what amuses us is his imperious attitude and recourse to spurious allegations just because of an election. He should know that the people of the Ondo State who have a history of rejecting external influence and domination, will resist his attempt to play the role of a godfather in Ondo state. Ondo is not Rivers.

“The man ought to know that utterances of public office holders must be measured and their delivery ought to be in line with the mood of the people. The people of the state will resist Wike here even if he had roared elsewhere successfully. For emphasis, his imperialistic approach is most unfortunate and very unbecoming.”