By: Amaechi Okonkwo – Port Harcourt
The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the March 18 gubernatorial and house of assembly elections in Rivers State, Sen. Magnus Abe, has denied congratulating any winner in the election.
In the first statement coming from him and his campaign organisation since the result of the election was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Monday night, Abe urged the public to ignore a social media news suggesting that he had sent a congratulatory message to Siminilayi Fubara, who was declared winner of the governorship election.
The Senator who represented the Rivers South East senatorial district at the national assembly, in the statement signed by his media aide Parry Benson, described the election as a charade and violence-prone saying he would not congratulate anyone who emerged through the process.
“I wish to state on good authority that the statement did not emanate from Senator Magnus Abe and therefore should be ignored as such was the handiwork of conscience-pricked individuals who could no longer sleep as they have murdered sleep”, Benson said in the statement.
He added: “Senator Abe cannot congratulate anyone who emerged from such a process that was characterized by intimidation, thuggery, harassment and blood-letting where citizens were not allowed to freely cast their votes for candidates of their choice, ‘that was a sham’.
“It is worthy of note that Abe contested in the election to win and give Rivers people a new lease of life, end the grip of tyranny and state-orchestrated terrorism.
“The general public should be informed that at the appropriate time, the SDP standard bearer and Rivers people’s popular choice, Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe, will address the people on his position concerning the governorship election of March 18, 2023 which was marred with the highest level of irregularities”.
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