A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Magnus Abe, has debunked claims that he has withdrawn from the party’s gubernatorial race in the 2023 general election.
Abe, while addressing a press conference on Thursday said “he has not withdrawn from the race and would not withdraw.”
He described the scheduled primaries of the party slated to hold today at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt as a “charade,” noting that the process employed to elect delegates that would select the party’s flagbearer was not inclusive and fair.
The former senator maintained that he would not accept the outcome of any process that is not just, fair, equitable, and not inclusive, adding that the primaries being conducted by the “former minister of transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi” does not meet the standard and stand contestable.
“And for that reason, while I have decided not to participate, nor withdraw out of respect for the party, I want to say that I will not accept the outcome, neither be bound by it.
“To Rivers people, let me say this clearly and unequivocally, there will be an election to select a governor for the people of Rivers State in March next year, as in other parts of the country, and it will be the responsibility of the rivers people to choose who that governor would be; that will be the chief executive of our state; that will superintendent over the affairs and activities of all of us moving forward.
“That responsibility belongs to the people of Rivers State. What I will say to rivers people is that I, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, will be on that ballot, and Rivers people will have the opportunity to choose who shall lead our state moving forward.
“No one individual, however powerful, however well connected will decide for all of us,” Abe stated.
Recall that Supporters loyal to Abe, led by South-South Coordinator, Bola Ahmed Tinibu Vanguard, Tony Okocha, had announced their withdrawal from the party gubernatorial primary election today, describing the already scheduled process as “skewed and biased.”
