Rivers: ‘Wike Manipulated INEC To Rig Election For Tinubu In 2023’ – Pearse

A Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former member of the party’s National Presidential Campaign Council (2023), Adetokunbo Pearse, has renewed his party’s criticism of the 2023 general elections in Rivers State, accusing political actors of manipulating results in favour of President Bola Tinubu’s victory.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Post, Pearse reminded Nigerians of how FCT Minister Nyesom Wike helped the President secure Rivers State in the last general election, and warned that the PDP will contest similar efforts ahead of the 2027 polls.

Pearse described the 2023 presidential election outcome in Rivers State as manipulated, arguing that official results did not reflect the will of the electorate.

“The presidential election was rigged. Their figures were all manipulated. Look, all the senators, PDP, all the House of Representatives, PDP, all the Assembly members, PDP, how did the people now vote for the President and for APC?” he asked.

According to him, the shift in results was due to what he called Wike’s manipulation of the electoral process in the state.

“It was just Wike’s manipulation; the way he manipulated INEC to give the result of the presidential election to Tinubu so that he will have a voice. That is how he managed to get the position of FCT,” Pearse claimed.

Pearse Warns Against Repeat In 2027

Pearse further alleged that similar tactics could be attempted by the ruling party in the upcoming 2027 election, whether involving Wike or Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“Now the President is going to try, of course, they’re going to try to rig it in 2027, for the President, be it Wike or Fubara, whoever,” he said.

He insisted that the PDP will not accept any repeat of the perceived electoral manipulation and pledged to take stronger measures this time around.

Pearse stated, “I guarantee you, this time round the PDP, we are not going to stand by, even if we have to call in international observers to decide the case. We want a true and credible election whoever wins in any state.”

He said the PDP wants election results that genuinely reflect voters’ choices, rejecting any form of tampering.

The PDP Chieftain added, “We want that result to be credited to the person that wins, the party that wins.

“So all that rigging they did in 2023, we are already planning and we are going to count it out in 2027, it will not happen again.”