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Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has insisted that the state’s local government elections fixed for Saturday, October 5, will proceed, despite protests from allies of his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He warned strictly against anyone with an attempt to obstruct the electoral process in the state.
He added that he would not condole any action that would create confusion, tension or instability in the state during the poll.
The Peoples Democratic Party members loyal to Wike and a faction of the All Progressives Congress led by Chief Tony Okocha (also a known Wike’s loyalist), had earlier announced their decision to withdraw from the election, citing irregularities.
However, the APC faction loyal to former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, led by Emeka Beke, maintained its participation, handing over party flags to candidates in 22 of the 23 local government areas in the state.
The Okocha-led APC faction had taken legal action against the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) at the Federal High Court in Abuja, advocating for a temporary injunction that would prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission from releasing the voter register for the election.
The court also restrained security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, from providing security for the exercise.
Despite the legal restraints, the RSIEC on Friday expressed its readiness to conduct the election on Saturday, claiming to have access to the voter register, contrary to INEC’s position.
But prominent PDP politicians and thousands of their supporters took to the streets to protest against the planned conduct of the election by RSIEC.
Governor Fubara during a stakeholders' meeting criticised the protesters, saying, “You know, in this election, I am the greatest loser because my party is not participating. But due to the Supreme Court ruling that there must be elected officials to manage the affairs of local governments, as governor, I have to comply."
He explained that following the Supreme Court ruling, a meeting was held with President Bola Tinubu, where they agreed to comply with the ruling within a 90-day timeframe.
As a result, Fubara insisted that the local government election must proceed, even though the PDP is not involved.
Fubara bemoaned resistance to the election in Rivers State, noting that other states across the country had conducted local government elections using the 2023 voter register without such controversies.
“Ten states of the federation have conducted elections with the 2023 voter register. I don’t know why things in Rivers State are always different. Is it that when it comes to the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is interpreted differently for Rivers State?” Fubara asked.
He also alleged that some of the protesters were outsiders brought into the city from boundary towns between Imo State and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, and Akwa Ibom State, to foment trouble.
“No matter the guise or level of ‘aluta continua’ posture that the detractors adopt, the local government election will proceed as planned,” the governor emphasised.
Fubara concluded by urging registered voters and political leaders to be present at their polling units on Saturday to participate in the election and ensure the smooth conduct of the process.
Earlier, the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, led by its Chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, staged a protest against the planned conduct of the local government election by the RSIEC, despite a court order restraining it.
The protesters, including current and former members of the National Assembly as well as immediate-past local government chairmen, are allies and loyalists of Wike.
Among them were the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda; the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, Dumnamene Dekor; his counterpart representing Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency, Kelechi Wogu; and a former chairman of the PDP in the state and former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Desmond Akawor.
Other notable figures at the protest included a former federal lawmaker, Emma Deeya; a former Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Fred Kpakol; and the immediate-past chairmen of Eleme, Gokana, Andoni, and Emuoha Local Government Areas, Obarimate Ollor, Confidence Deko, Erastus Awortu, and Chidi Lloyd, respectively.
Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: “RSIEC, obey court order,” “Rivers State is not lawless,” “We say no to impunity,” and “Police and Army must not support RSIEC.”
A group of youths among the protesters chanted slogans such as, “Under the rain, under the sun, we will follow Wike,” “No election in Rivers State,” and “On your mandate we shall stand,” as they made their way to the DSS office, where they were addressed by an official
