A prominent Lagos-based chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former member of the party’s 2023 National Presidential Campaign Council, Adetokunbo Pearse, has reignited controversy surrounding the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State.
Speaking during an interview with Daily Post, Pearse alleged that the election results in the state were manipulated to secure victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing former Rivers State Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of influencing the process.
According to Pearse, the outcome of the presidential poll did not align with voting patterns across other elections conducted in the state at the same time.
He questioned how the PDP could have swept seats in the National Assembly and the Rivers State House of Assembly, yet lost the presidential vote in the same election cycle.
“The presidential election was rigged. The figures were manipulated,” Pearse said. “All the senators were PDP, members of the House of Representatives were PDP, and the Assembly members were PDP. How then did APC suddenly win the presidential vote?”
Pearse attributed the outcome to what he described as Wike’s manipulation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State.
He alleged that Wike influenced the electoral process to tilt the results in favour of Tinubu, a move he claimed ultimately earned Wike his appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“It was Wike’s manipulation. He manipulated INEC to hand the presidential result to Tinubu so he could secure a voice at the centre. That is how he got the FCT ministerial position,” Pearse claimed.
PDP Raises Alarm Ahead Of 2027
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Pearse warned that similar tactics could be deployed again by the ruling party, whether through Wike or the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
He insisted that the PDP would strongly resist any attempt to undermine the electoral process.
“Of course, they will try again in 2027 — whether it’s through Wike or Fubara,” Pearse said. “But this time, the PDP will not sit back and watch.”
Pearse stated that the opposition party is prepared to escalate its response, including engaging international observers if necessary, to ensure transparency and credibility.
“We want a free and fair election. Whoever wins should win genuinely,” he said. “The result must reflect the will of the people, not manipulation.”
He concluded by assuring party supporters that the PDP is already putting measures in place to prevent a repeat of what it considers electoral malpractice in 2023.
“All the rigging that happened in 2023 — we are preparing to counter it. It will not happen again in 2027,” Pearse declared.
Tags
News