The former Rivers State Governor, who voted midday, decried what he called a total failure of governance in Nigeria.
“Gongs are being beaten about in the whole communities asking people who will not vote PDP not to come out or they would be beaten. People are being beaten, the governor (Wike) has declared people wanted and nobody has spoken.
“The governor has no right to declare anybody wanted. The IG (Inspector General of Police) is doing nothing, nobody is doing anything. Complete failure. There is voter apathy in Rivers. Nobody wants to come out because people are scared.
“INEC is complete failure. There are those of us who opposed the reappointment of Yakubu Mahmood. The person who nominated him is a member of Tinubu’s camp. So what are you expecting?
“Here in Rivers State, Mahmood worked under Wike as Executive Secretary of TETFund, so what you are having in Rivers is that APC and other parties are contesting, not against PDP, but against INEC, against Police”
On the conspicuous voter apathy, the governor said, “When the first election came and went, if people didn’t get what they want, they’re discouraged. And you can’t force people to vote.”