*Insists he will be on the ballot and win 2023 Governorship election in Rivers
Daniel Efe /Port Harcourt.
The name of former representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, is missing from the Rivers INEC list published to contest for the 2023 Governorship election.
The conspicuous absence of Abe’s name among the 16 political parties’ flag bearers and their running mates qualified to contest the 2023 governorship election has sent tongues wagging.
He is yet to officially defect to another party and neither has it known to have participated in Governorship primaries of any other political after dumping APC.
Our Correspondent reports that even though the speculations making the rounds is that he will be contesting under the Social Democratic Party, SDP, the Governorship candidate on the INEC list is one Maurice Pronen, his Ogoni kinsman.
Senator Abe recently dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, but said he supports Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s Presidential Candidate, but insists that his name must be on ballot, contest and win the Governorship election in 2023.
The Commission made this publication available at its state headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The electoral body advised members of the public to scrutinise the particulars of the candidates and seek judicial remedy for any observed violation of the law.
However, against all expectations Senator Magnus Abe failed to make the INEC list after severally insisting he is going to be on the ballot.
Reacting to the list, the former National Publicity Secretary, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Anabs Sara-Igbe, said what INEC published is still a tentative list saying new names are likely to come in.
Abe who spoke on Africa Independent Television, AIT live programme said that he has very bright chances of winning the 2023 governorship election in Rivers State, considering the fact that he has never lost in any election in the state before.
He said: “What chances do I have in the state? Very bright chances. I always win elections. I don’t lose elections in Rivers State. The contest is always tense because the contest of power is always tense but somebody must win.
Senator Magnus Abe whose name is missing on Rivers INEC published list for Governorship Candidates, insists his name must be on the ballot.
“The important thing is that we should allow the people of Rivers State to decide. I am ready to abide by whatever the people of Rivers State will decide. I am ready to submit myself. I don’t even want to lead a people who don’t want me to lead them, because the kind of dreams and visions that I have for my state is such that I need the people to work with me for us to be able to achieve anything.
“So if they don’t choose me and I impose myself on them, I know that the plans we are making will not work because I need their support and I need them to work with me. I don’t want to be a leader who is going to where the people are not going. So I don’t even want to be the governor without the endorsement and strong support of Rivers people.
“So, I am presenting myself to them; I will tell them the plans we have. I will tell them what I think we can do with the state. I will tell them where I think we can be going to and if they are interested in coming with me, then we will go. If they are not interested, it’s not a problem.