The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has said it has not barred any member of the party wishing to contest for the office of governor in the state in 2015.

The party, in a statement issued by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media to the State Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, was reacting to reports in a section of the media that the party had stopped the leader of the party in the state and supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, from contesting the governorship election.

Dismissing the report as the handiwork of intimidated aspirants and opponents particularly, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP said it had never contemplated nor received any letter of intent with regard to the 2015 governorship election from any flag bearer.

“As a party founded on democratic ideals, the PDP notes that there are set standards and criteria, for contesting intra and inter party elections which are open to all members irrespective of religion, tribe, ethnicity or social status etc,” the statement said.

It also said: “The party reassures all its members and intending aspirants into any office and not only the office of governor of fairness and level playing ground for all,” stressing that the smear campaign against Wike was borne out of fear of his intimidating political profile and overwhelming acceptance by Rivers people as evidenced in the continued calls on him to present himself for election into the office of governor of the state in 2015.

The party therefore enjoins all Rivers people and the unwavering party members and supporters to discountenance the sponsored rumours and media campaign against its leader, Wike, emphasising that the “report of stopping the supervising minister of education from contesting the governorship election is not true and is anchored on precarious feet of falsehood and deceit.”