By Straightnews
The Action Peoples Party (APP) has swept 23 local government chairmanship seats in Rivers State, according to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
This came as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed strong reservations regarding the election and the declaration of results.
RSIEC Chief Election Officer, Adolphus Enebeli, made the announcement on Saturday, commending the process as free, fair, and credible.
He said that a large voter turnout was recorded and the polls were closed at 3 p.m. The commission also confirmed that results for the 319 councillorship positions will be announced alongside those of Etche LGA once the collation concludes.
The results were observed by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), state electoral body chairmen, and Nigerian Bar Association members.
The announcement took place at the Ministry of Justice Hall instead of RSIEC’s usual office, a move Enebeli attributed to logistical challenges.
Despite RSIEC’s assurances of credibility, both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed strong reservations regarding the election and the declaration of results.
At a press briefing, Rivers PDP Chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, warned that declaring results could incite violence, stating, “We want to caution that any attempt to announce any result whatsoever will be an invitation to violence. No election was held in Rivers State on the 5th of October, 2024, as ordered by the courts.”
Similarly, APC South-South Chairman, Victor Giadom, highlighted discrepancies in the election process, which he said contradicted existing laws. “The entire process of the local government election in Rivers is in conflict with the laws of the land. If the process is done according to law, my party will participate,” Giadom remarked.
As tension builds, the state awaits the final result from Etche LGA, with the PDP and APC urging caution in the face of potential chaos.
Fubara swears in Chairmen Sunday
The Rivers State Government will swear in the 23 chairmen declared winners of Saturday’s Local Government Council elections this afternoon (Sunday).
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) announced that the Action Peoples Party (APP) won all 23 local government area chairmanship seats in the election.
The State Government also confirmed that the election has concluded, and it will swear in the winners today.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Wenike Danagogo, it was announced that the chairmen would be sworn in at 4 p.m.
The statement read: “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the Governor of Rivers State, will today, Sunday, October 6, 2024, swear in the newly elected Council Chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, by 4 p.m.
The newly elected Chairmen, along with one (1) guest each, are expected to be seated by 3:30 p.m.”
Background
Recall the elections took place, Saturday, amid gunshots, bomb explosions and protests in some parts of the state.
The development, which did not fall short of pre-election predictions, left many residents worried, especially as a result of minimal presence of the police across all polling areas.
The police had earlier said they were not providing security for the polls given a court order restraining them and other security agencies from providing security during the poll.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing the 2023 voter register to RSIEC. It also stopped the Inspector-General of Police and Department of State Services, DSS, from providing security for the exercise.
The matter pitched the camp of Governor Siminalyi Fubara and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, against each other, thereby heightening tension in the state. However, RSIEC said it had received a copy of the voter register from INEC since last year.
Earlier, Wike’s supporters staged a protest in Port Harcourt, kicking against the election.
