The political crisis rocking Rivers State currently has no end in sight as the local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) are seen to have triggered further crisis in the state.
NEWSPAPER PLEDGED reported that the elections were held on Saturday as per the directive of Governor Siminarai Fubara despite opposition from supporters of the Minister for Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike.
Supporters of Mr Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced a boycott of the elections, citing a ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
NEWSPAPER PLEDGED reported that Justice Peter Rif of the Federal High Court in Abuja in his ruling said the RSIEC had breached necessary regulations by failing to give the required 90-day notice before fixing the date of the elections. The court therefore barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from releasing the voters register to the RSIEC for the conduct of the election.
Justice Riff also barred the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from ensuring security at polling stations.
The ruling followed a suit filed by the state chapter of the APC before the judge criticising the RSIEC’s decision to set October 5 as the election date.
Despite the court’s ruling barring security agencies from participating in the election, Governor Nubara maintained that the election would go ahead as scheduled.
His stance caused confusion in political circles last week as some stakeholders condemned the governor while others, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, expressed their full support. Similarly, the RSIEC has declared its readiness to ignore legal hurdles and conduct the elections, claiming to have access to the voters’ register contrary to INEC’s position.
Violence marred LG elections
The elections were marred in some parts by the activities of armed groups suspected to be political thugs.
Daily Post recalls that suspected arsonists detonated explosives at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt, destroying parts of the premises, hours before the start of the elections.
The Chairman of the State Transition Committee of the main opposition party, Chief Tony Okocha, accused supporters of Governor Fubara of carrying out the heinous attack.
While the exercise was peaceful in many places, there was heavy gunfire in Rumuepirikom community in Obio/Akporu Local Government Area of the state, which is the seat of the FCT Minister.
NEWSPAPER PLEDGED learnt that some unknown people had invaded the community ahead of the election, announcing that people should not come to the rally.
However, as polling officials were about to reach the LGA area, gunmen suspected to be political thugs invaded the place opening heavy gunfire, discouraging people from going to vote.
In another development, two people sustained gunshot wounds at Igwuruta community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state after some youths allegedly Wike supporters tried to enforce a Supreme Court ruling.
Governor Fubara restores local government structure
Wike’s alleged attempt to control Rivers State’s political structure after eight years as governor has led to an unending crisis rocking the state.
Rivers State lawmakers loyal to Wike had extended the term of the former executive chairman by six months to maintain the structure, but he was removed by Fubara.
The governor then nominated interim chairmen for the state’s 23 counties on June 19, 2024.
The candidates were swiftly vetted and approved by the state House of Assembly led by Speaker Victor Jambo. Ahead of Saturday’s election, Governor Fabara directed his supporters to contest on the platform of the Action People’s Party (APP) as Wike held great influence in the PDP.
Announcing the results of the election on Saturday night, the Chief Electoral Officer of the RSIEC, retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli, said the APP won the chairmanship seats in 22 out of the 23 local government areas.
This was a clear indication that Governor Fabara had regained control of the LG structure for the upcoming elections.
No election held in Rivers – APC claims
However, the APC on Saturday night contested the election and its results, claiming that no election was held in the state.
Rivers State APC spokesperson, Ikenga Chibike, toldNEWSPAPER PLEDGED that the Federal High Court ruling was correct, describing the just concluded election as a mirage and a “fraudulent outcome.”
“As far as the APC in Rivers State is concerned, there was no election on Saturday so if anyone declares anything, the result is false. “The law remains the law. It says that if the RSIEC wants to conduct a proper election, it must also follow due process,” he explained.
The party said it decided to boycott the election to “comply with the ruling of the Federal Court which ruled against the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and barred them from conducting the election.
“The court also declared all steps taken up to that point null and void. We support the ruling and therefore did not participate,” he explained.