The political rivalry in Rivers State has taken another dramatic turn, with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reasserting his influence over the state’s political structure at the grassroots level. His successor and estranged protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, appeared to lose ground as results of Saturday’s local government elections were declared.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on Sunday announced that the All Progressives Congress (APC), the main opposition party in the state, won 20 out of 23 local government areas, while the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured just three.
Significantly, Governor Fubara’s local government area, Opobo-Nkoro, was among those claimed by the APC, highlighting the deepening cracks within the state’s power structure. Both the APC and PDP candidates who emerged victorious are known loyalists of Wike, underlining his continued dominance over Rivers politics despite his fallout with Fubara.
Among the APC chairmanship winners were Ofori Owolabi (Abua/Odual), Solomon Achoma (Ahoada East), Eugene Cheta (Ahoada West), Bob Fubarab (Akuku Toru), and Otua Promise (Andoni). Others included George Onengiyeofori (Asari Toru), Pepple Blessing (Bonny), Michael Williams (Degema), Obarilomate Ollor (Eleme), Lloyd Julius (Emohua), Njoku Chima (Etche), Confidence Deko (Gokana), Wobodo Charles (Ikwerre), Thomas Bariere (Khana), Dr. Gift Wodo (Obio/Akpor), Akuro Tobin (Okrika), Obasi Uchechukwu (Omuma), James A. James (Opobo-Nkoro), Okechukwu Nwogu (Oyigbo), and Okwe Mbakpone (Tai).
The PDP retained three LGAs with Chukwu Ogbodo (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Vincent Nimieboka (Ogu/Bolo), and Sir Allwell Ihunda (Port Harcourt) declared winners.
Atiku Rejects Poll
Reacting to the outcome, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar strongly condemned the election, describing it as “an awful absurdity and a travesty to the very notion of elective democracy.”
In a post on X, Atiku accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the APC of undermining democratic values.
“By the shameful and shambolic manner in which the occupation government went ahead to conduct local government elections in Rivers State, it is clear that the ruling APC is prepared to throw caution to the wind in pursuit of political advantage,” he stated.
He urged opposition parties in Rivers to reject the exercise, stressing that the process lacked legitimacy. Atiku further called on Nigerians, the international community, and Nigeria’s democratic partners to pay close attention to what he described as “a dangerous curve that the Tinubu administration is taking the country.”
Expressing solidarity with Rivers people, the former Vice President said they had become “victims of political brigandry by a power cabal determined to overturn their democratic rights at all costs.”
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