Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike recently accused Peter Obi’s supporters of attacking him. He believes this backlash is a result of his refusal to support Obi during the 2023 general elections, as he did not think Obi had a chance of winning.

While speaking in Port Harcourt, Wike revealed that he faced intense lobbying from Obi and his team, but he turned them down. He stated, “Peter Obi’s group lobbied me so much. They cannot deny it. And I said, ‘look, this one won’t fly.’ Rivers State will not vote for where it’s not going to fly.” He emphasized that he did not want to waste the votes of Rivers State on a candidate he believed would not succeed.

Wike expressed his frustration about what he called a “gang-up” against him, stating, “look, enough is enough. They want to fight us back. They’re fighting themselves.” His comments highlight the ongoing political tensions following the elections.

Additionally, there have been numerous allegations regarding the 2023 presidential elections in Rivers State, including claims of vote rigging and tampering with result sheets in favor of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Reports also indicated that political thugs were deployed to influence voters and that there were instances of vote-buying.

In the election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi from the Labour Party each won 12 states. However, Tinubu was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after receiving the highest number of votes.

As political rivalries continue to unfold, Wike’s accusations against Obi’s group underscore the complexities and challenges within Nigeria’s electoral landscape.