Tension as Pro-Wike, Fubara camps head for climax in Rivers’ council polls 

• Why there will be no going back on tomorrow’s election, by Fubara
• Amaewhule, others condemn RSIEC’s ‘disregard’ for court judgment
• PDP, APC in marriage of convenience to halt exercise
• We won’t allow individuals, groups to disrupt voting, IYC vows
• IPAC backs Rivers’ council poll, commits to democracy
• State’s teachers resolve to vote, optimistic of free, fair, balloting

After several months of devious stratagems for control of the political soul of River State, the pro-Wike and pro-Fubara camps appear to have dug in for a grand finale in tomorrow’s controversial local council polls.

The exercise, which will feature the election of new leaders for the state’s 23 councils, culminates the power struggle between incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former political godfather and ex-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

The election is also scheduled against a backdrop of judicial fireworks thrown up by conflicting court pronouncements amid disputes between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly strongly condemned the RSIEC for what is described as a “blatant” disregard of a Federal High Court judgment.

The court had ordered the commission to halt the planned local council election, citing non-compliance with relevant laws.

During its 55th Legislative Sitting, the House Committee on Commissions and Agencies presented a report revealing RSIEC’s recalcitrant posture.

According to a statement by Martins Wachukwu, special assistant to the embattled Speaker, Amaewhule, the committee’s findings showed that the Federal High Court order restrained RSIEC from conducting the election tomorrow.

The order also prohibited the Nigerian Police and Department of State Services from providing security for the elections and directed INEC not to release the updated Voters’ Register until RSIEC complies with Sections 13 and 20 of its establishing law.

Relying on the committee’s findings, the lawmakers regretted why RSIEC, a creation of law made by the Rivers State House of Assembly, would seek to disobey the order of a Federal High Court.

They said it was more worrisome that RSIEC is headed by a retired judge of the State High Court, who ought to know better. They added that as representatives of the people, they would not stand akimbo and watch while the state degenerates into lawlessness.

Amaewhule expressed disappointment that, under Governor Fubara’s watch, Rivers State is assuming the garb of a Banana Republic.

Also, in a surprise move, the Rivers State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) joined forces yesterday to protest the election.

The protest began at 7:45 a.m., with members and supporters of both parties converging at the PDP Secretariat at Leventist Junction.

The APC’s Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, and the PDP’s State Chairman, Chukwuemeka Aaron, have publicly stated that the poll is riddled with illegality and that their parties will not participate.

But Governor Fubara urged every registered voter and political group leader to ensure they are at their polling units tomorrow to participate in the election.

Fubara gave the charge while addressing Rivers political stakeholders who converged on Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday, preparatory to the election.

The governor said the meeting was convened to assure the political class and the electorate of the state government’s support for the poll as it approaches its climax.

Fubara said the meeting was open to the public and the media because it was time to reinforce the message to the people about the importance of the election to the sustainability of democracy in the state.

The governor stressed that the state government’s position and resolve on the forthcoming election are clear, affirming that it will be conducted and concluded.

In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, quoted his principal as saying, “First, I want to thank every one of you for being very peaceful. I didn’t make any mistake when I said we need to follow this struggle with a different tactic.

“If you have a very special egg that you are carrying, and somebody is coming to fight you, do you need to fight the person? Won’t you use your two hands to grab the egg basket? Even if the person is chasing you, if you run and hit your foot and the basket of eggs falls, who will lose? Is it not you? You can see why we are cautious and following this course with AI.

“Secondly, I want to assure you that the local council election is about the state. I might not be a lawyer, but I understand it is a state matter.

“And, thirdly, the beginning of this process to the end is within the purview of the state. It has nothing to do with any federal judicial institution (seeking) to disrupt it. So, we should understand this fact and play according to the rules.”

According to the statement, the governor wondered why some self-serving people are bent on hatching plots to derail the election when states that have no duly elected local councils across the country are striving to do so to avoid running afoul of the Supreme Court ruling.

Fubara said: “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’s different when it concerns Rivers State?

“Anyway, today, we assure you that as a government, we are prepared to support the electoral body in conducting a free, fair, and credible election for the peace-loving people of Rivers State.”

Governor Fubara reportedly revealed how his insistence on peace and determination to follow the electoral process had unsettled some people. Those so unsettled, he said, have resorted to protesting on the streets to attract public sympathy, something they had mocked in the past. He said this indicates that he and his team have won over the detractors.

Fubara alluded that some of those on the streets are people hired either from places like Obinze-Ngwa, boundary towns between Imo and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council, and Akwa Ibom, who were brought into the city to protest.

The governor said the local council election would go on regardless of the guise or level of “aluta continua” posture the detractors adopt.

He said, “Our AI pattern of doing things has even made people turn to the chant of aluta. There was a time when they told the public they couldn’t protest. Look at some of them; they are now behaving like members of labour unions and protesting like students. They have turned to aluta professions. Going by the analysis they posed then, we can say there is every signal they have failed.

“So, if today, these same persons have resolved to the aluta pattern, it means that we have also won. So, we need to be very careful and follow this course with tact.”

Governor Fubara insisted that only registered voters residing in the state could participate in the election.

He said, “Go, do what the law says you should do, as demanded by the RSIEC Law, and leave the rest. RSIEC will take it from there, and when RSIEC finishes its part, the state government will also take it from that point and finish its part, and the process will all be consummated by the special grace of God in a few days coming.”

Fubara also said, “During this election, I am the greatest loser because my party is not participating. It is the truth! However, because of the Supreme Court ruling that elected officials must manage the affairs of local councils, as a governor, I have to obey that.

“It did not end there. The President, after the Supreme Court ruling, invited us, and we had an understanding that we have a compliance duration of 90 days. So, what we are doing here is to make sure that even if my party is not participating, the local council process must stand for Rivers State.

“And a good number of you here are my party faithful, and you are not even benefiting from it, but you are here supporting us. So, what is the problem?

“So, I want to thank you for supporting democracy. Thank you for ensuring there is a rule of law. Thank you for sticking your neck out and making sure that Rivers State still stands among the comity of states.”

Resonating Fubara’s stance, the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) vowed to safeguard the local council election, saying it will not allow any individual or groups of persons to disrupt the exercise.

IYC President Theophilus Alaye disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

He said it was appalling that courts of coordinate jurisdictions were giving conflicting judgments to stop the conduct of the exercise, describing the development as unfortunate.

Alaye said Governor Fubara’s intention in conducting the election is to ensure governance at the grassroots takes full swing and delivers democratic dividends to the people.

He explained that periodic elections are tools for democratic processes in any liberal democracy. These polls are used to elect leaders from federal to state levels. He noted that it complies with this democratic tradition to allow the people to elect those who will govern at the grassroots. He said this informed the Fubara administration’s decision to start the processes earlier this year and would culminate in the conduct of the council election tomorrow.

Alaye stressed the importance of electing chairmen and councillors to head the councils, adding that over 10 governors have conducted local council elections peacefully and wondered why Rivers State should be different.

He stated, “As Ijaw youths, we will not allow any individual or groups of persons to disrupt the forthcoming local council election. We, the Ijaw people, are laying the golden eggs to feed this country, and we will not allow anyone to disrespect our humble and peaceful son, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

“It is appalling to note that courts of coordinate jurisdictions are giving conflicting judgments to stop the conduct of local council elections in Rivers State, which IYC considered very unfortunate.

“We advise eminent judges to be impartial while adjudicating over sensitive issues of this magnitude and avoid playing into the hands of politicians to cause chaos and confusion, as no court judgment has ever stopped national and state government elections from holding.”

Relatedly, teachers in Rivers State vowed to exercise their franchise in the upcoming election despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the polls.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) supported the elections and urged its members to vote. “We are confident that the elections will be free and fair,” said NUT State Chairman Collins Echikpu. We urge all teachers to exercise their right to vote and help elect leaders who will improve the quality of education in Rivers State.”

MEANWHILE, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening democracy in the nation, even as it backed the polls.

IPAC National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle addressed a press conference in Abuja, urging the people of Rivers State to actively engage in the electoral process by voting for their preferred candidates.

He stressed that “elections are the cornerstone of democracy”, particularly at the local level, where governance is closest to the people.

While advocating for peaceful and credible elections, IPAC condemned practices undermining the democratic process.

Dantalle criticised the high cost of nomination fees, which can exclude credible candidates, and the sudden alteration of electoral laws, which can disrupt the political landscape. He called for a level playing field for all parties and candidates, maintaining that electoral integrity is non-negotiable.

Dantalle drew parallels with the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest. He warned against repeating such a “national nightmare” and condemned attempts to halt the Rivers State elections through judicial means.

IPAC also called on the Inspector-General of Police and security agencies to ensure the safety and security of the elections.

It announced plans for a roundtable discussion on the judiciary’s role in democracy, advocating for greater accountability among judicial officers.

Dantalle emphasised that the judiciary must either reform or risk hindering Nigeria’s democratic progress.