The political atmosphere in Rivers State has become increasingly tense as a faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike, along with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), mount a legal challenge against the newly elected local government chairmen. The core issue stems from the election results, which heavily favor the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Election Results and the Power Struggle
According to reports, the Action Peoples Party (APP) secured 22 out of the 23 chairmanship positions, with the Action Alliance (AA) winning the remaining seat. Additionally, the APP won 314 out of the 319 available councillorship seats across the 23 local government areas (LGAs) in Rivers State. Most of the newly elected local government officials are loyal to Governor Fubara, creating a major challenge for Wike’s faction in the ongoing struggle for power within the state.
Legal Challenges from the Wike Faction and APC
The Wike faction of the PDP and a segment of the APC have discredited the election, alleging that it was manipulated to favor Governor Fubara. They plan to challenge the results in court, citing a High Court order that had initially banned the electoral process. Publicity secretaries from both parties have criticized the election, with the PDP’s spokesperson stating that no election was held on the scheduled date. They claimed to have protested at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on election day and found no evidence that an election had taken place. Furthermore, they described the swearing-in of the elected chairmen and councillors as a farce orchestrated by the Fubara administration.
Amaechi-Led APC’s Reaction
In contrast to the objections raised by the Wike faction and other APC members, the APC loyal to former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, expressed satisfaction with the election results. Chizi Enyi, Chief of Staff to APC Chairman Emeka Beke, noted that the party did not lose completely, as they had secured a councillorship position. Enyi, however, voiced concerns for those preparing to contest the election outcome in court.
Support for the Election Outcome
Sydney Gbara, the Rivers State Commissioner for Environment and former PDP Publicity Secretary, also expressed contentment with the election. He described it as the freest and fairest election in the state’s history, hailing it as a “step of liberation” for the people of Rivers State.
Governor Fubara’s Response
Governor Fubara has downplayed the legal and political challenges posed by the Wike faction and the APC, referring to their actions as attempts to undermine the state’s local government. He emphasized that his administration would not resort to undemocratic methods in responding to the opposition, instead committing to peaceful means of protecting the state’s assets following the election.
Conclusion
The crisis in Rivers State continues to deepen as both legal and political battles play out between factions loyal to Governor Fubara and former governor Wike. While some members of the APC and PDP reject the election results, others have expressed confidence in the fairness of the process. The situation remains fluid as court challenges are anticipated, but Governor Fubara has pledged to maintain a peaceful approach in navigating this turbulent period.
