Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has firmly asserted that the local government election scheduled for Saturday, October 5, will go ahead as planned, despite significant protests from supporters of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Fubara warned that any attempts to disrupt the electoral process would not be tolerated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining stability in the state.
The ongoing tensions have been exacerbated by legal challenges from the Okocha-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which secured a temporary injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register for the election.
This injunction also restricts security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, from providing support for the electoral exercise.
Despite these legal obstacles, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has expressed readiness to conduct the election, asserting it has access to the necessary voter register.
However, on Thursday, prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and thousands of their supporters took to the streets in protest against RSIEC’s plans, arguing that conducting the election would violate the court order.
During a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Fubara acknowledged the complexities of the situation, revealing that his own party, the PDP, would not be participating in the election. “I am the greatest loser because my party is not participating,” he stated. Nonetheless, he cited a Supreme Court ruling mandating that elected officials must be in place to manage local government affairs, reinforcing his commitment to proceed with the election.
Fubara questioned why Rivers State faces unique challenges when other states have successfully conducted local government elections using the 2023 voter register without controversy.
He alleged that some protesters were outsiders brought in to incite unrest and reiterated his intention to hold the election regardless of opposition.
Meanwhile, the PDP, led by Chairman Aaron Chukwuemeka, staged a protest to voice their disapproval of the election. Participants braved heavy rain, marching through Port Harcourt and carrying placards demanding adherence to the court order. Chukwuemeka emphasized that the PDP would not participate in the election and warned of potential repercussions if RSIEC proceeded without addressing their concerns.
The protest culminated at the state police command headquarters, where a petition was submitted highlighting the court’s injunction against the election. The Deputy Commissioner of Police praised the protesters for their peaceful demonstration and assured them their concerns would be communicated to the Commissioner of Police.
As tensions mount, the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike has also expressed opposition to the election, urging RSIEC to respect the court’s ruling.
While some factions of the APC have withdrawn from the electoral process, others remain committed to participating, further complicating the political landscape in Rivers State as election day approaches.
