BY MYKE UZENDU
The recently concluded local government elections in Rivers State have intensified the political struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike. Despite a Federal High Court ruling barring the elections due to procedural issues, Governor Fubara insisted on proceeding. The elections were marred by allegations of violence, intimidation, and the withdrawal of police security following the court’s decision.
Governor Fubara directed his supporters to contest under the Action Peoples Party (APP) due to Wike’s influence in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APP won 22 of the 23 local government chairmanship positions, effectively giving Fubara control over the local government structure in the state.
This result is seen as a major setback for Wike, who had attempted to maintain his influence through loyalists in the PDP and factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In response, Wike’s loyalists and the APC have declared that no legitimate election took place, further escalating the tension between the two camps.
The outcome of the elections represents a significant power shift in Rivers State politics, with Fubara solidifying his authority while Wike’s influence appears to be waning amid ongoing disputes and legal battles over the legitimacy of the elections.
The Action Peoples Party (APP) won 22 of the 23 Chairmanship positions contested in Saturday’s Local Government Elections.
The Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli, described the elections as free and fair.
Announcing the results, Enebeli said that the winners secured two-third majority votes in their respective wards across the 23 Local Government Areas (LGA) in the state.
“Results for 19 Wards in Etche LGA are still being collated, while the results for the 319 councillorship positions across the 23 LGAs will be announced in due course,” he said.
Enebeli further said that elections were conducted in all the 6,866 units in 319 Wards, with 18 of the 19 political parties participating.
“The elections, which concluded at 3 p.m., recorded a significant voter turnout, with many defying the rain to cast their ballots,” he said.
He commended the political parties and residents for their dedication to ensuring a smooth election process.
The RSIEC boss declared those who polled the highest number of votes duly elected Chairmen of their respective LGAs.
The list of the successful Chairmen included Vincent Obu (Abua/Odual), Chibudom Ezu (Ahoada-East), Iyekor Ikporo (Ahoada-West), Mrs Tonye Briggs-Oniyide (Akuku-Toru), Lazarus Nteogwuile (Andoni), and Dr Sule Amachree (Asari-Toru).
Others were Dame Anengi Barasua (Bonny), Dr Harry Agiriye (Degema), Chief Brain Gokpa (Eleme), David Omereji (Emohua), Monday Dumiye (Gokana), and Isreal Abosi (Ikwerre).
Also declared winners were Martins Nwigbo (Khana), Chijioke Ihunwo (Obio/Akpor), and Isaac Umejuru (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Ishmael Oforibika (Ogu/Bolo), Igwe Achese (Okrika), and Promise Reginald (Omuma).
The rest were Enyiada Cookey-Gam (Opobo/Nkoro), Gift Okere (Oyibo), Ezebunwo Ichemati (Port Harcourt) and Matthew Dike (Tai).
The result declaration was witnessed by agents of the 18 political parties, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and civil society groups, among others.
You may recall that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had in a judgement declared that RSIEC violated requisite provisions by not publishing the mandatory 90 days notice before fixing the date for the election.
The court barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from releasing the voter register to RSIEC for the conduct of the election.
Justice Lifu also barred the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Service, DSS, from providing security for the polls.
The judgment followed the suit brought before the judge by the state chapter of APC, faulting RSIEC’s move to fix October 5 for the polls.
Despite the court judgement barring the security agencies from participating in the election, Governor Fubara insisted that the election would go on as scheduled.
His stance stirred up the political space last week as some stakeholders lashed out at the governor, while others, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar threw their weights behind him.
The PDP National Working Committee had in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, urged residents of Rivers State to participate in the elections to exercise their constitutional rights. The NWC emphasized that no individual or group could infringe upon the people’s right to take part in democratic processes, including local government elections.
The PDP cited Section 84(15) of the Electoral Act 2022 to argue that the courts did not have the authority to halt the election, which was an apparent reference to a court ruling that had tried to block the elections. The PDP also condemned the APC-controlled police for allegedly invading the RSIEC facilities in an attempt to frustrate the election. They maintained that this action was an affront to democracy, and they reaffirmed their support for the people of Rivers State to elect their local leaders peacefully.
This stance by the PDP’s national headquarters was in contrast with some local factions of the party in Rivers State that opposed the election, leading to mixed messages within the PDP ranks. While the national body supported the election, some members of the Rivers State PDP, particularly those loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, called for a boycott, which has intensified internal party conflicts.
While the exercise was going on peacefully in many places, there were heavy gunshots in the Rumuepirikom Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, the home of the FCT Minister.
It was reported that some unidentified persons gained their ways into the community ahead of the election and announced that people should not come out.
