The Action Peoples Party (APP) has secured 22 out of 23 local government area chairmanship positions in Rivers State, as reported by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). The results for the Etche Local Government Area remain unresolved due to ongoing collation processes.
Despite the APP’s success, both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have voiced strong objections regarding the election and the subsequent declarations.
RSIEC Chief Election Officer Adolphus Enebeli announced the results on Saturday, praising the electoral process as free, fair, and credible, noting a significant voter turnout and the closure of polls at 3 p.m. He confirmed that the results for 319 councillorship positions would be disclosed alongside those from Etche LGA once collation is complete. The announcement was made at the Ministry of Justice Hall rather than the RSIEC office, a decision attributed to logistical challenges.
Observers from the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), state electoral body chairmen, and members of the Nigerian Bar Association monitored the elections. However, the PDP and APC remain skeptical.
At a press briefing, Rivers PDP Chairman Aaron Chukwuemeka cautioned that declaring results could lead to violence, asserting, “We want to caution that any attempt to announce any result whatsoever will be an invitation to violence. No election was held in Rivers State on the 5th of October, 2024, as ordered by the courts.”
Similarly, APC South-South Chairman Victor Giadom pointed out discrepancies in the electoral process that he claimed were in violation of legal statutes. “The entire process of the local government election in Rivers is in conflict with the laws of the land. If the process is done according to law, my party will participate,” Giadom stated.
Tony Okocha, former chairman of the APC caretaker committee in Rivers, echoed concerns about the election’s legitimacy, accusing Governor Siminalayi Fubara of ignoring a court judgment. He warned against the declaration of what he termed “fictitious” results, cautioning that such actions could incite unrest. “The governor’s attempts to enthrone his proteges into the councils will not work,” Okocha added.
As the state anticipates the final results from Etche LGA, tensions rise, with the PDP and APC urging restraint to prevent potential chaos.
Written by: Idu Sunita