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.
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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).
Atiku faults poll
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.
“By the shameful and shambolic manner in which the occupation government went ahead to conduct local government elections in Rivers State, it is clear that the ruling APC party is not leaving anyone in doubt that it is prepared to throw caution to the wind to achieve an inordinate political advantage,” he said.
He called on Nigerians, the international community, and partners of the country to pay attention to what he described as a “dangerous curve that the President Bola Tinubu regime is taking our dear country.”
Atiku also appealed to opposition parties in Rivers State to reject the elections.
“I will also call on all opposition parties in Rivers State to reject the local government election on the premise that the occupation government that conducted the exercise is extraneous to our laws, with absolutely no legitimacy to undertake such a crucial and sensitive assignment,” he stated.
Atiku concluded by expressing solidarity with the people of Rivers State, who he said are “currently victims of political brigandry to a power cabal which is bent on overturning their democratic rights at all costs.”
Wike, Fubara clash
The disagreement between Wike and Fubara dates back to September/October 2024, when the FCT minister got wind of a move allegedly by Fubara to remove Martin Amaewhule as Speaker of the state House of Assembly and replace him with his loyalist in a bid to assume control of the state legislature.
Hitherto, Wike had imposed most of his loyalists as commissioners in the new administration, a move that Fubara found offensive, but he stomached it until he gradually began stamping his authority with his own appointments, which irked his godfather.
The disagreement assumed a fever pitch, leading to the bombing of the House of Assembly complex by yet-to-be-identified persons.
Later, the majority of the lawmakers attempted to impeach Fubara, but he survived and later ordered the demolition of the House.
