—WHAT MAY PLAY OUT IN 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN RIVERS STATE
Come February 25th, 2023 Rivers state voters will file out to cast their votes for a candidate of their choice but for supporters of Rivers state former Governor and former Minister of Transporters and former presidential aspirant of All Progressives Congress-APC who came out as first runner-up in the 2022 Presidential Primary election of APC has not shown any outward declaration for Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his 2023 Presidential candidacy. Having lost out and currently nursing the pains of his loss, Rt. Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his Rivers state followers are keeping mute over the September 28th 2022 Presidential campaign commencing soon.
With Architect Tonye Dele Cole being Amaechi’s Governorship candidate choice and with the hangover Presidential ticket loss to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there is palpable fear that his supporters will cast their votes for APC Presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. Instead there are ongoing political re-alignments in Amaechi’s camp as to where their loyalty lies come February 25th 2023 Presidential election. For one Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has not shown publicly his body language towards Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential bid. However, his recent outburst at the 60th Birthday of General Overseer of Abundant Life Evangel Mission-ALEM apostle Eugene Ogu where he charged delegates and ordinary Nigerians for regretting the choice of Presidential candidate they must have chosen after collecting bribe money from the winners. This statement drew bad blood among supporters of both Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
What may play out on 25th of February, 2023 is that Rivers state electorate will file out and watch where their political leaders’ directions and cast their votes in that regard. Usually the South-South region aligns with Northern Nigeria in their political alliance since 1999 to date. This may not be unconnected to the economic base of Nigeria being found around the extractive industry of hydrocarbon and allied services located inside the South-South geo-political zone. So, whatever political party that captures central votes and occupies Aso Rock seat of political power Abuja also works very hard to capture 6-states of South-South Nigeria.