Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike have traded words over the Rivers Assembly re-run scheduled to hold on December 10.

Ganduje who is the chairman of the All Progressives Campaign Council for the rerun had told journalists that it was abnormal to have a free and fair election in that part of Nigeria.

He said this shortly after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Ganduje said, “We are prepared. We just came out of Ondo elections. We have fresh ideas even though both environments are different but we have our own strategies.

“Like in Ondo State, we must ensure have free and fair elections.

“You know in that part of the country, having  free and fair elections is not normal and we have to make it normal this time.

“We must ensure that there is security so that people will come out and vote. That is our main preoccupation at the moment. We are making wider consultations with stakeholders and we believe we will succeed.”

However, Wike in his reaction said Gansuje’s statement was unfortunate, wondering if he was INEC.

Wike said, “It is unfortunate if he (Ganduje) said so. As far as I am concerned, elections have been normal in my part of the country. All we are asking for is free and fair election.

“Is Governor Ganduje speaking on behalf of INEC? Is he the one conducting the elections now? I have respect for him as an elderly person but his statement is unfortunate.

“When his friend won the governorship election in Rivers State, the election was normal. The election was also normal in Edo State where his party won. We are waiting for him to come and perform the magic he did in Kano State.”

Azeez