APP’s Landslide Victory: What Does It Mean For Rivers Politics?

The Action People’s Party (APP) has emerged victorious in the Rivers State local government elections, winning 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions.

The Chief Electoral Officer of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Adolphus Enebeli declared the results on Saturday in Port Harcourt.

However, the state electoral umpire suspended the declaration of results for Etche Local Government Area (LGA) because the collation is ongoing.

The RSIEC chairman also said that announcement for the 319 councillorship seats will be announced alongside that of the Etche Chairmanship position when collations are concluded.

He described the election as free, fair, and credible, despite all odds. According to him, polls were closed at 3 pm and recorded a large turnout of voters.

Enebeli saluted the patriotism of the residents who turned out to vote.

The declaration of the results was observed by members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), chairmen of the state’s independent electoral bodies across the country, and members of the Nigerian Bar Association who acted as observers in the polls.

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He said the commission “adopted the principle of bi-location because of the exigencies” they found themselves.

The results were announced at the Ministry of Justice Hall at the State Secretariat complex, rather than the Commission’s office on Aba Road.

On election day, two explosions rocked the state. Police authorities confirmed that one of the incidents happened earlier on Saturday.

“The first explosion was reported at the APC Secretariat on Aba Road at approximately 3:00 am. A security guard reported hearing a loud bang and, upon investigation, observed three black Toyota Hilux vans speeding away from the scene,” the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command Grace Iringe-Koko said, adding that the incidents are being investigated.

“The explosion caused significant damage, destroying the gate and shattering the windows of the building. Additionally, the security building was set ablaze. The second explosion occurred at the Obio/Akpor Council secretariat around 3:30 am. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a black Toyota Hilux van and a white Toyota Sienna minivan drive past the secretariat.”

Gunshots were equally reported in some parts of Port Harcourt, the state capital. Some unidentified persons who rode in a black Toyota Corolla were spotted firing gunshots around the Wimpy area of the state which is a stone’s throw from the home of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike.

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Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier in the week protested against the conduct of the election and had stormed the Department of State Security office and the Government House both in Port Harcourt to register their demand.

Saturday’s declaration of results brings to an end a pulsating run to the local government election in the oil-rich state.

The election followed the Federal Government’s three-month grace for states to conduct local government polls.

Ahead of the exercise, police authorities had said they would not provide security for the election, citing a court order. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also barred by a court order from presenting the voter register to RSIEC.

That move created ripples in the state, leading to a heightened atmosphere days before the election.

Undeterred, Governor Siminalayi Fubara vowed that the poll would hold and stormed the RSIEC office around 1:00 am on Friday, alleging that police operatives in the state want to thwart the exercise.

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“We are prepared, we are prepared,” the governor said as he called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to take responsibility for any disruptions.

But the police said their officers were at the RSIEC office to secure the facility.

“Conversely, in reaction to credible and actionable intelligence received about plans by hoodlums to carry out an arson attack on the RSIEC office, Police personnel were deployed to secure the premises,” the Rivers State Police Command said.

“The Rivers State Police Command remain committed to our duty to maintain the peace and ask residents of Rivers State to act within the confines of the law. The Police will do everything to maintain law and order.”

Some of the top parties in the state including Fubara’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not participate in the election.

“You know this election, I am the greatest loser because my party is not participating. It is the truth!” the governor said.

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On the eve of the election, the PDP at the national level, however, called on residents of the state to come out for the poll and exercise their franchise.

(This story, excluding headline contains information from Channels TV)