The Centre for Truth and Justice (CTJ) has faulted Saturday’s local government elections in Rivers State, describing the process as a “travesty of democracy” and an “assault on the rule of law.”

The group also slammed Governor Siminalayi Fubara for “wasting taxpayers’ resources on an exercise which they deemed a blatant disregard for democratic principles and a consolidation of power.”

The group’s executive director, Obinna Francis, in a statement, said the election was marred by irregularities, including a lack of transparency, accountability, and legitimacy.

He cited a Federal High Court judgement restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voters’ registers to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), which was allegedly overridden by Governor Fubara.

The CTJ further criticised Governor Fubara’s use of proxy parties to advance his political agenda and the involvement of RSIEC in the illegitimate process.

“We condemn in totality the charade, mockery, and the total abuse of our democratic process by the purported conduct of Local Government (LG) elections in Rivers State,” Francis said.

While describing what transpired in Rivers State as a travesty of democracy and an affront to the will of the people, Francis said the “so-called election that took place within the confines of the Government House is not only an illegal act but also a violation of every democratic principle that this nation stands for.”

According to him, the actions of Governor Fubara are a dangerous precedent that threatens the very fabric of the nation’s democracy, saying that “Nigerians can now understand clearly that Governor Fubara is ready to destroy whatever is left of our democracy if he is not urgently called to order.”

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He added: “Evidently, one of the most alarming aspects of Governor Fubara’s tenure has been his unilateral suspension of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly using kangaroo court orders. In defiance of legislative autonomy and the separation of powers, Governor Fubara has installed a three-man committee to function as the state assembly.

“This illegal structure is a mockery of the democratic process, and we must all ask ourselves what kind of state operates without a legitimate legislature. The answer is clear: a dictatorship. Furthermore, Governor Fubara’s disregard for the law extends to the recent conduct of a sham LG election in Rivers State.

“The election, which was conducted within the Government House, is an embarrassment to the state and the nation as a whole. This process lacked transparency, accountability, and legitimacy. There were no observers, no genuine electoral oversight, and no opportunity for the people of Rivers State to make their voices heard. Instead, it was a coronation, not an election—a process aimed at installing Governor Fubara’s puppets in key positions of power across the state.

“It is pertinent to mention that a judgement from a Federal High Court in Abuja had already restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voters’ registers to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

“Yet, in typical fashion, Governor Fubara obtained a questionable court order to override this judgement, demonstrating his utter contempt for the judiciary and the rule of law. Hence, the involvement of RSIEC in this illegitimate process raises serious concerns about the impartiality and independence of the electoral body.

“Rather than upholding the sanctity of the electoral process, RSIEC has become a tool in Governor Fubara’s hands to manipulate elections and install his loyalists in office. This flagrant abuse of power must be addressed if we are to preserve the integrity of future elections in Rivers State and Nigeria at large.