The Amaechi 2011 re-election campaign organisation has described the withdrawal of Celestine Omehia from the governorship race on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State as an expression of lack of confidence in himself and a sure sign that he would have failed woefully in the primaries.

Chairman of the Amaechi 2011 Re-election Campaign Organisation, Chief Nyesom Wike stated this while reacting to statements credited to Omehia that his withdrawal was as a result of lack of transparency in the process that led to the election of delegates for the primaries.

Addressing newsmen at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Wike said: “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have reacted to Omehia’s withdrawal, he picked his intent form to contest the January 9 PDP governorship primaries and has a right to withdraw or remain. What we are reacting to is what he said about the process of election of delegates being marred by irregularities. The Amaechi campaign organization has prepared overtime knowing that we have to mobilise people to vote.”

“This is why we embarked on a tour of Local Government Areas and districts to consult and seek the support of delegates for the primaries.”

“It baffles us to know that the same man who is talking about this had prepared a list of his own delegates and petitioned the party’s national secretariat, unfortunately his list was turned down because you cannot have a right to conduct primaries without the national body recognising the panel in charge of that election.” Wike said.

“The same man who says he wants to contest the election has filed several suits at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt. So, the issue becomes, what are you seeking for, was he prepared for this election? Certainly not.”

“You are aware that in 2007, this same man who is talking about transparency never picked an intent form to run for primaries to be governor of Rivers State, yet after the emergence of Rotimi Amaechi as the candidate of the PDP who scored over six thousand votes in that primary, somebody who never picked an intent form was later chosen to be the candidate of the party, he never questioned that there was no transparency, he never questioned that that process was wrong.”

The Director-General  further described Omehia’s withdrawal on Friday as a way of saying that he is not up for the challenge. “We wanted a stiff competition but he has chickened out. We, however, thank him for withdrawing and urge him to still remain in the party but if he feels otherwise, we are still willing to challenge anybody at the polls.”

“With Governor Amaechi’s precedence and performance, it is even obvious that the PDP would not make the mistake of opting for another candidate. Even other parties have said that with Rotimi Amaechi as the PDP candidate, they will not contest the election. Rivers people are all waiting for him to get the flag so that they will all come out and vote for him in April.” Wike said.

Responding to allegations that the delegates’ election process was hijacked by some PDP chieftains or marred by some irregularities, Wike explained that it only takes honesty and maturity for people to concede to defeat. “Anybody who loses will always find one excuse or the other to hold onto. Nobody is saying that you must have a hundred percent, but at least to the best of our knowledge, there is a radical change from what used to be; now people have subjected themselves to elections. If they are sure of their story, they should come out and name those PDP chieftains and not to generalise.”

“There is also an appeal process within the party where aspirants can take their complaints to.”

“If we had participated in such irregularities, we would not have wasted time to go round the 23 local government areas mobilising and seeking the delegates support.