The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Sunday announced the results of Saturday’s local government areas chairmanship elections, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) victorious in 20 out of the 23 councils.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) secured wins in just three LGAs: Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt City (PHALGA), and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA). Governor Siminalayi Fubara notably lost his Opobo-Nkoro LGA to the APC.
Announcing the results at the headquarters of RSIEC in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the chairman of the commission, Dr. Michael Odey declared Ofori Owoalabi of APC winner of Abua-Odual LG with 28,755 votes; Solomon Achoma with 54,509 votes won in Ahoada East while Eugene Epelle won in Ahoada West with 84,125 votes.
In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA), PDP’s Shedrack Ogbogu won with–51,051 votes.
Before Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s suspension through the state of emergency declaration in March this year, his administration conducted local elections in October last year, in which a relatively unknown political party, the Action Peoples Party (APP), won in 22 local government areas.
The governor and his supporters went to the APP to forestall the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike’s control of the PDP and APC but the Supreme Court later nullified the elections.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appointed a sole administrator for Rivers, Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval chief, who conducted the local elections under Fubara’s administration, and appointed new ones who conducted Saturday’s election.
Meanwhile, the Head of Mission for the Rivers local government polls observation, Dr Gabriel Nwambu, has praised the conduct of security agents and voters during the Saturday local government elections in Rivers.
In a statement released on Sunday, Nwambu revealed that the mission deployed 330 observers across all 23 local government areas (LGAs), reporting no incidents of intimidation, thuggery, violence, or vote-buying.
He highlighted the pivotal role of the police, the lead agency responsible for internal security and the democratic process, affirming that they were “on top of the game.”
Nwambu noted that checkpoints were manned by a well-trained and thoroughly briefed joint task force, comprising multiple law enforcement agencies, including the military.
He commended the officers for strictly adhering to the rules of engagement, describing this election as one of the best in recent times concerning the performance of law enforcement agencies.
“They did not brutalise anybody. Unlike in the past, where you would introduce yourself as an election observer, they would pretend as if they were not even hearing you.
“This time, they were even ready to assist you to cross and go your way, provided you conduct yourself in a peaceful manner. So, I think the security situation here in Rivers is excellent,” he said.
Nwambu said that the mission observed high compliance level in terms of restriction of movement, saying young adults were seen playing soccer on the desolate streets.
He said that the electorates were happy as they came out en masse to exercise their franchise, which was long overdue.
The chief observer also commended INEC for a well organised election, saying that there had been no major complaints against the electoral umpire.
He said that elections began at about 8:30 a.m in most of the polling units except a few areas where it commenced at about 9:30am.
Blueprint learnt that, with reconciliatory steps between the embattled Fubara and Wike, the six-month suspension hanging on the governor is likely to be lifted by September 18.