Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara appeared to have – at least for now – won the power tussle against former Governor Nyesom Wike when he swore in 23 chairmen yesterday, following Saturday’s controversial local council elections.

The governor swore in the new leaders in a ceremony observed by his Bauchi State counterpart and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed.

The Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), said the elections demonstrate the power of the people’s votes over weapons. He announced Uzodinma Nwafor, the candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) party, as the winner of the chairmanship seat of Etche Local Council.

The RSIEC chairman explained that the process of collating votes cast in Etche Council for the chairmanship position was completed after being stood down on Saturday. He explained that the process was conducted with careful consideration, impartiality, and electoral justice, ensuring that the rightful winner, the candidate from the Action Alliance party, received the necessary majority of valid votes to be declared the winner and returned elected.

Enebeli said: “We can see that Rivers people and residents in their overwhelming majority of opinion have given the veracity of vindication to RSIEC’s avowed position to conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent, all-inclusive, violence-free, successful and treasured election without police or security agencies.”
He said that of the 319 political wards, the Action Peoples Party (APP) won 314 councillorship positions, while other parties clinched wins for the remaining five positions.

The APP commended Governor Fubara for his leadership and fairness before, during, and after the elections. The party also lauded RSIEC for conducting the election with transparency and fairness.

The party’s state chairman, Sunny Wokekoro, said, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate RSIEC, under the leadership of Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), for their timeliness and efficiency in organising the elections. This is a stark contrast to previous elections organised by INEC.”

“RSIEC was precise and timely, with election materials arriving at the voting centres early. Voters were able to cast their votes without any issues.” A source disclosed yesterday that the Nyesom Wike political faction in Rivers State was allegedly mobilising youths from each ward to block council secretariats and prevent Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s group from accessing them. There are fears that this may intensify the political crisis in the state.

“There is the possibility of a crisis in Rivers State on Monday (today). Fubara is swearing in the chairmen of local councils elected at the weekend to resume work on Monday,” the source said.

The police command on Saturday confirmed two blasts rocked the state during the elections. The first explosion occurred at the APC secretariat along Aba Road, while the second struck the Obio/Akpor Local Council Secretariat, just outside Port Harcourt.

THIS came as former Senate President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Senator Adolphus Wabara, expressed deep regret over the party’s poor performance in the council elections in Rivers State. Wabara attributed the PDP’s failure to internal divisions, stating that the party’s refusal to heed wise counsel led to its defeat.

He noted that the state’s ongoing political crisis was largely responsible for the party’s loss. Wabara lamented that this was the first time in recent history that a ruling party in Rivers State, controlled by the PDP since 1999, lost its grassroots influence to a lesser-known party.

“This is unprecedented in the history of recent local council elections, where the ruling party and the party of the governor lost its grassroots structure. The PDP has shot itself in the leg. If we look deeper, it means that technically and literally, the PDP has lost Rivers State,” Wabara said. He expressed doubt over the PDP’s chances of reclaiming the state in the 2027 elections and regretted that party elders’ warnings about the crisis were ignored.

“We saw this coming and warned the key players, but instead of heeding our advice, we were ridiculed. Now, the consequences are clear for everyone to see.”
Wabara noted that the outcome of the local elections serves as a reminder that political parties must not take the people’s will for granted. He urged party stakeholders to make sacrifices to rebuild and reposition the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.

Also, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar tasked the newly elected leaders in the just-concluded Rivers State local council elections with prioritising the citizens’ welfare and shunning tyranny.

In a statement yesterday, he commended the people of Rivers State for their steadfastness in the face of adversity, courageously ensuring that Saturday’s election unfolded peacefully and with integrity.

Atiku said, “As I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected local council leaders, I urge them to wear the welfare of the people as their foremost badge of honour and shun tyranny and delusional ambition in their political endeavours.

“With the conclusion of the local council elections in Rivers State, the shadows of political intimidation and judicial chicanery have dissipated, paving the way for the noble pursuit of governance to commence in the state.

“From the bustling heart of Port Harcourt to the tranquil shores of Onne, the populace has spoken harmoniously, affirming that nothing betters democracy.
“As prophesied, it has now been revealed that the citizens of Rivers are astute and resolute, unwavering in their rejection of any form of political oppression, harassment, or the machinations of self-serving godfathers.”

Atiku also lauded the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for his unwavering commitment to the people’s interests, safeguarding the sanctity of the local council elections even amid provocative challenges. He added, “In the grand tapestry of this election, it is ultimately the people who emerge victorious, their sacred right to choose their leaders firmly upheld within the framework of our democratic process.”

MEANWHILE, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship positions in the local government council elections in Benue state, which took place on Saturday.

Terlumun Tombowua, the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) chairman, announced the results during a press conference in Makurdi yesterday.
Also, the BSIEC boss issued certificates of return to all the chairmen-elect at the commission’s office. Tombowua said the elections were conducted “free, fair and credible” and revealed that none of the 23 local government council chairmanship positions were uncontested.

Additionally, Tombowua mentioned that eight political parties had initially registered to participate in the election, but only five — APGA, PDP, SDP, LP, and the APC — eventually contested.

In the spirit of sportsmanship, the Labour Party (LP) chairman in Benue state, Idoko Ibrahim, congratulated the APC on behalf of the participating political parties. He commended the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) for a successful exercise and said they would review the results before issuing a statement.

Despite a pending court case by an aggrieved faction of the APC, the council polls held across the state were peaceful. However, turnout was low and there was a general lack of public enthusiasm.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongly denounced and rejected the results of the elections. In a statement in Makurdi, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyor, described the election as a ‘facade’ and vowed to challenge the outcome in court.

He said, “The facade was marked by numerous well-documented irregularities, including the shocking non-deployment of election officials and electoral materials to polling units across the state.

“In the few areas where some semblance of the election was orchestrated by the APC-led administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia, evidence arose of ballot stuffing and mass thumb-printing of ballots.

“The Benue electorate, who turned up for the exercise, were left waiting all day in vain at the polling units, and in the end only came away more disillusioned with the state of public administration in Benue State under Governor Alia.

“PDP is deeply saddened by this display of lack of integrity, not only by the Benue State Governor but also by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), which reneged on its earlier promises to guarantee the electorate their right to exercise their voting franchise.

“Both Governor Alia and BSIEC have failed the Benue people and, in so doing, violated their sworn oath to uphold the integrity of the electoral process in the state. PDP stands with the disenfranchised people of Benue State and declares that there were no local council polls held in the state yesterday.

“What transpired was a mockery of democracy, a charade orchestrated to deceive the people and install a puppet regime at the 23 local councils of the state to perpetuate poverty and underdevelopment.”

Nyor added, “This abuse of power and manipulation of the electoral process cannot be tolerated in any democratic setting. We demand that Governor Hyacinth Alia cancel the sham exercise and conduct a fresh exercise in accordance with electoral laws and the integrity of the electoral process. If this is not done, we will explore legal options available to us as a party.”

But the PDP in Akwa Ibom State won 30 chairmanship seats, leaving the APC with only one seat. This information was contained in a list signed by the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), Aniedi Abasi Ikoiwak, yesterday.

This came as Governor Umo Eno announced plans to swear in the elected chairmen tomorrow. The decision followed AKISIEC’s move yesterday to issue certificates of return to all the elected chairmen of the councils.

Eno, who made this known while speaking at the All Nations Christian Ministry in Eket, said it was important to immediately inaugurate the democratically-elected officials to position the local councils in the state for rapid development.

“Elections were concluded yesterday. Results are trickling in. We are swearing in new chairmen tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. We want to thank those who have served. They have done well.

“The window we negotiated with the Federal Government was until October, and this is October. So, we need to quickly swear in those chairmen so that they can start receiving their allocations and work for their people,” he said.

Also, a combined team of security personnel took over the AKISEIC office in Oko Ita, Ibiono Ibom Council, Akwa Ibom State, following an early morning attack on the facility by unidentified individuals. Elections were held across the state’s three senatorial districts to elect chairmen and councillors in the 31 councils and 369 wards.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Timfon John, who reacted to the situation, said a combined team of security operatives took over the AKISIEC office in Ibiono Ibom to ensure calm.

Election materials arrived very late in different areas of the state, especially in units around Uyo, the state capital, and its environs. As of 11:00 a.m., materials had not yet arrived at most polling units, and voter apathy was evident.

At Unit 7, Ward 12 in Uyo Local Council, only a few voters were seen in clusters. This was also the situation in many polling units visited, including Unit 2, Ward 10 in Itu Local Council and Unit 007, Ward 14 in Uyo Local Council.

In a reaction, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Olawale Edun, to immediately withhold federal allocations to states that have failed to conduct credible local council elections.

SERAP also urged that any allocations from the Federation Account be paid only to democratically elected local government councils and no other body or institution.

Furthermore, SERAP requested details on the number of local councils that have directly received federal allocations and whether these councils are democratically elected, as mandated by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and as ordered by the Supreme Court in its judgment of July 11, 2024.

Recently, the Supreme Court ordered the Federal Government to pay funds directly in the Federation Account only to democratically elected local councils and no other body or institution. Additionally, the court instructed the 36 state governors to ensure democratic governance at the local level.

The court ruled that state governors do not have the authority to dissolve democratically elected local councils within their states and replace them with caretaker committees. The court also mandated immediate compliance by states with the terms of this judgment.

In a letter over the weekend signed by SERAP’s deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation stated that the government is obligated to enforce the Nigerian Constitution and prevent public wrongs, including by state governors.

SERAP said, “A democratically elected local council does not and should not exist at the pleasure, whims, and caprice of governors or their ‘political godfathers’.”

The organisation noted that the government has a constitutional obligation to ensure accountability for spending federal allocations and immediate compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment and the rule of law.

“Local councils are entitled to direct payment from the Federation Account to promote good governance, people’s welfare, and the development of local government areas across the country.

“Where the rule of law reigns, political expediency ought to be sacrificed on the altar of the rule of law to guarantee the continued existence of institutions created to promote social values of liberty, orderly conduct, and development.

“It will be entirely consistent with the rule of law to immediately withhold federal allocations to states that have failed and refused to conduct local council elections and to ensure that any allocations from the Federation Account are paid only to democratically elected councils and no other body or institution,” SERAP said.

The organisation expressed concern over a recent statement by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, that “the conduct of local council elections in virtually all the states of the federation has become mere coronation of candidates of the ruling parties.”

SERAP said it is time to stop the coronation and conduct proper elections. It pointed out that Section 162(3)(5) of the Nigerian Constitution states that the amount standing to the credit of local councils in the Federation Account shall be distributed to them and be paid directly to them. The organisation stressed that state governors have no power to keep, control, manage, or disburse allocations from the Federation Account to local government councils.