Rivers LG Poll: APC Lawmaker Disobeys Party’s Boycott Order, Votes, Endorses Wike
Despite a boycott order by the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC to its members against the local government elections holding in the state today, a chieftain of the party and lawmaker representing Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo federal constituency, Hon.Dr.Barry Mpigi on Saturday participated in the election by casting his vote at his polling unit in his village.
The Chairman of the party, Hon.Ojukaye Flag Amachree in a statement he personally signed had said; “Our members should shun anything that will directly or remotely associate them with the sham exercise on Saturday”.
This directive appears to have been outrightly disobeyed by Hon.Mpigi who before now has been having a sustained romance with Gov.Wike and the PDP in Rivers State.
Speaking after casting his vote, Hon.Mpigi said;
“My name is Hon.Barry Mpigi, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, as you can see I just finished casting my vote, the APC refused to participate in the election because of the endless crisis that rocks the party”.
The lawmaker who claimed his participation in the poll was to attract more debelopments to his people said;
“Today we’re not talking about party but we’re looking at dividends of democracy”.
Hon.Mpigi who is already nursing a senatorial ambition in the 2019 General elections praised Gov.Wike for the massive development the state has witnessed under his leadership. He said his people as a sign of appreciation will massively support Gov.Wike for him to continue in office in the 2019 polls.
“His Excellency Chief Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has performed very well and because Tai people are not ungrateful people we have said that he deserves another tenure”
Mpigi, who openly endorsed Gov.Wike for a second term in office said the only reason that may change that is if the APC gives its governorship ticket to any of its kinsmen.
“The only reason why Tai people may do a rethink is if gubernatorial ticket is giving to any Ogoni son, we don’t need Deputy governor or what ever, at the absent of the gubernatorial ticket for an Ogoni son I hereby urge Tai people to support Wike till 2023”, He said.
Suanu’s Blog recalls that Hon.Barry Mpigi after receiving a brand SUV Jeep donation from Gov.Wike was later rumoured to have been bought over to the PDP with an irresistible sum of N1bn. He has continued to have a cordial relationship with Gov.Wike including the sole right of nominating the current caretaker committee chairman of his Tai local government area who before now was a member of the APC, the local government candidate of the PDP in today’s local council poll as well as facilitating the defection of the lawmaker representing Tai State constituency in the state house of the assmbly, Hon.Matthew Dike, to the PDP.
Suanu’s Blog gathered that Hon.Mpigi who has perfected his defection to the PDP is strategically waiting for the “right time” as the 2019 elections draw near.
Meanwhile, the local government elections in Tai Local Government Area is reportedly going on peacefully.
