Rivers LG poll: Atiku demands annulment as Wike reasserts control
Fubara loses local govt, APC wins 20 LGs, PDP claims three
•FCT minister’s control temporary – Rivers elders
The political power dynamics in Rivers State once again changed with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, regaining his grip and control of the state’s political grassroots, which his successor and estranged political godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, temporarily dispossessed him of in the last two years.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission on Sunday declared the results of the August 30 local government elections, with the All Progressives Congress, the main opposition party in the state, winning 20 of the 23 LGs while the ruling Peoples Democratic Party won the remaining three LGs.
The local government areas won by the APC are Obio/Akpor, which is that of the FCT minister, Port Harcourt City LGA and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara lost his LGA, Opobo-Nkoro, to the main opposition party in the state.
Both the APC and PDP winners are Wike’s loyalists.
According to the results released by RSIEC on Sunday, APC’s Ofori Owolabi won the Abua/Odual LGA chairmanship seat. In Ahoada East, APC’s Solomon Achoma won.
Other APC winners are Eugene Cheta (Ahoada West); Bob Fubarab (Akuku Toru); Otua Promise (Andoni); George Onengiyeofori (Asari Toru); Pepple Blessing (Bonny LGA); Michael Williams (Degema); and Obarilomate Ollor (Eleme LGA); Lloyd Julius (Emohua).
Other APC winners are Njoku Chima (Etche); Confidence Deko (Gokana); Wobodo Charles (Ikwerre); Thomas Bariere (Khana); Dr. Gift Wodo (Obio/Akpor); Akuro Tobin (Okrika); Obasi Uchechukwu (Omuma); James A. James (Opobo/Nkoro); Okechukwu Nwogu (Oyigbo); and Okwe Mbakpone (Tai LGA – APC).
The three PDP winners are Chukwu Ogbodo (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni); Vincent Nimieboka (Ogu/Bolo LGA); and Sir Allwell Ihunda (Port Harcourt).
However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the Rivers State LG poll and its outcome as “an awful absurdity and a travesty to the very notion of elective democracy.”
In a post on X on Sunday, Atiku criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the manner the elections were conducted.
