2027: NDC Chair Vows to Resist Any Attempt to Manipulate Rivers Poll

The Rivers State Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Success Jack, has vowed to resist any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 presidential election in the state.

Jack made the declaration while reacting to comments by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who recently said he and members of the defunct G-5 Governors’ group deliberately prevented Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi from winning Rivers State in the 2023 election.

Wike, who was governor of Rivers State at the time of the 2023 election, said the G-5 had adopted a strategy aimed at limiting the chances of the then Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the South-South.

According to Wike, while the group allowed Obi to make gains in some South-South states, it decided that he should not win Rivers because of the political implications of such an outcome.

Reacting to the development, Jack said Wike’s comments would not intimidate the NDC ahead of the 2027 election, arguing that the electoral process had changed since 2023.

He maintained that voters would play an active role in monitoring the process, particularly the handling and transmission of results from polling units.

“What the Minister said doesn’t worry me a bit because the electoral system has changed. I heard of some magic they want to do, but I doubt if that will be possible,” Jack said.

He added that voters would monitor the process to ensure that results were transmitted from polling units and followed through at the local government collation centres.

“When people vote, they have to police it to make sure it is transmitted at the polling units and then police it to make sure that it is transmitted at the local government collation centres,” he said.

Jack also referred to concerns about the possible use of security agencies to intimidate voters, saying he did not believe such tactics would prevent voters from participating in the election.

“There are talks about using security agencies to intimidate voters, but I’m not sure that will work. I’m not sure that a security agent will come to one polling unit and kill everyone,” he said.

The NDC chairman concluded by saying he wished the FCT minister well but warned that any attempt to manipulate the electoral process would face resistance in Rivers State.

“Whatever the Minister said, I wish him well, but not in our Rivers State,” Jack said.