Only votes from card readers must be allowed in the next elections, governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, says while urging the National Assembly to take amendment of Electoral Act to the next level.
Wike said this was to take the amendment of the Electoral Act to the next level by ensuring that the electoral process would not be manipulated through the card reader.
Speaking during the 60th birthday celebration of a senator, George Sekibo, and the public presentation of six books written by the Federal Lawmaker on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike lauded the National Assembly for amending the Electoral Act, but stressed that unless measures were taken to protect the electoral process, the electoral umpire might use the present situation to rig in favour of the ruling party.
He said: ” The National Assembly should take the amendment of the Electoral Act a step further by ensuring that only votes that emanate from the Card Reader count. Other than that, the electoral umpire may manipulate the system to favour the ruling party. We know what they are capable of doing and this should be addressed.”
On the birthday celebration, Governor Wike described the senator representing Rivers-East senatorial zone, Sekibo, as a dependable politician who places the interest of the state above all other considerations. He noted that Sekibo plays his politics with sincerity of purpose.
The governor said: “One important thing is that Senator Sekibo is a reliable and dependable politician. He is a loyal party man who never gives conditions for the concessions he makes for the party.”
In his remarks, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said Sekibo was a repository of legislative knowledge.
Chairman of the occasion and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, noted that Sekibo was one of the serious minds in the Senate.
Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, and representative of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Ahmed Lawan, praised the senator representing Rivers-East Senatorial District as one of the voices that helped guide debates in the Senate.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, represented by Jones Onyereri said that the House felicitates with Sekibo on his birthday.
Responding, Sekibo assured Nigerians that he would continue to work for the development of the country. He also assured Governor Wike that the people of Rivers State would always support him for his commitment to the development of the state.
Highpoint of the birthday celebration was the unveiling of the six books written by Sekibo and the cutting of the Diamond Anniversary cake. The event was laced by high profile comedy, music and traditional dances.
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