The Action Democratic Party (ADP) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chief Victor Fingesi, has said that no one or organization should interfere with forthcoming governorship and other elections in the state.
Speaking during question and answer at a press conference held on October 16 at the party’s campaign office, Chief Fingesi said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should have free hand to conduct and monitor the elections.
Chief Fingesi said: “No one, no organization is supposed to interfere with our elections. It’s supposed to be something that the umpire and the umpire only, the INEC should monitor, supervise and carry out properly”.
The ADP governorship candidate while earlier reading a press statement thanked God for the fact that his name has been published as gubernatorial candidate of the ADP alongside other gubernatorial candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The press conference was held to announce the kick-off of campaign.
In the press statement, Chief Fingesi said that the recent order by the Rivers State government for political parties to pay five million naira for use of public facilities for campaigns was gagging freedom of assembly.
The governorship candidate said: “We have thought it necessary to invite our friends in the media to ask questions why the subtle reintroduction of the draconian decree four (4) of the long-forgotten military era which gagged freedom of assembly, association and speech in whatever shades and forms hiding under the guise of security breaches. The recent executive order of Rivers State government aimed at restricting in some way and regulating political parties activities, rallies and campaigns is a deliberate slap on democracy and the worst of distractions in the contemporary political system”.
He said that his party in alliance with other political parties and non-governmental organizations will go to court to challenge the order.
He said that his party’s agenda is to change governance “where the people would be the fulcrum of our government. We would interface with you from time to time to know the pulse of the masses and properly chart the way forward to addressing the misfortune and abuse of our collective sweat” allegedly.
He also said that the party has a three-prong agenda of agriculture, education and job creation saying they are the “strongest weapons to tackle our deficit of infrastructure and the resurrection of our already collapsed economy”.
Chief Fingesi reiterated that the party is the best alternative to bringing about “the Rivers State we yearn for” adding “we have the verve and flavour to reposition Rivers State of our dream”.
He also said the party’s policy thrust would encourage industrial revolution, boost the agrarian sector and enrich the state’s educational budget.
The party’s governorship candidate said that the party commiserates with those affected by the flood promising that members of the party will visit affected areas to give help to victims of flood.
