Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has called on the Church to pray for the All Progressives Congress, APC to reclaim it's mandate in the state instead of congratulating Governor-elect, Nyesom Wike.

VANGUARD reports that Amaechi made the call at a special thanksgiving service to mark his 50th birthday organised by his friends at Corpus Christi Cathedral in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

While responding to an appeal from the Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Camillus Etukudor to settle the row between him and Wike, Amaechi said, ''My Lordship talked about forgiveness. In the Catholic Church, you don’t oppose the views of your bishop. His words represent an order. If you oppose him you may be barred from taking Holy Communion.

''You are not a true Catholic if you don’t receive the Holy Communion. But Your Lordship, the same Catholic doctrine also states that justice comes before forgiveness. All those that were killed during the last general elections must get justice. Their families must get justice. Our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, must get justice first at the petition election tribunal. Our mandate must be retrieved at the tribunal.

''I am surprised that My Lordship congratulated Wike here today. I am using this opportunity to call on the Church to join the APC in praying to God so that we can reclaim our mandate. Reclaiming our mandate at the petition election tribunal will represent a measure of justice. We must seek justice before reconciliation''.