
Rivers State Governor, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike has called on the National Assembly to take the amendment of the Electoral Act to the next level by ensuring that the electoral process is not manipulated through the card reader.
Wike made the call in Port Harcourt at the weekend while speaking during the 60th birthday Celebration of the senator representing Rivers East in the National Assembly, Senator George Thompson Sekibo and the public presentation of six books written by the federal lawmaker.
The governor lauded the National Assembly for amending the Electoral Act, but stressed that unless measures are taken to protect the electoral process, the electoral umpire may 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, Wike described Senator George Thompson Sekibo as a dependable politician who places the interest of the state above all other considerations, noting that the senator 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, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa said that Sekibo is a repository of legislative knowledge.
Chairman of the occasion and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu noted that Ogu-born federal lawmaker is one of the serious minds in the Senate.
Also speaking, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and representative of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senator Ahmed Lawan praised the Senator Representing Rivers-East Senatorial District as one of the voices that help guide debates in the Senate.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara represented by Mr Jones Onyereri said that the House felicitates with Senator Sekibo on his birthday.
Responding, Senator George Thompson Sekibo assured Nigerians that he will continue to work for the development of the country.
He also assured Wike that the people of Rivers State will always support him for his commitment to the development of the state.