…residents await end to emergency rule
The results of the Local Government elections released on Sunday in Port Harcourt by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 20 Local Governments, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) managed to win only three Local Government Councils.
The results confirmed 100% the BusinessDay predictions reported and published yesterday in the BD Sunday, the weekend edition of BusinessDay titles.
BD Sunday reported that the seats were shared to the FCT Minister’s foot soldiers in both parties (APC and PDP) in what was termed ‘Collabo’; done in the absence of suspended governor, Sim Fubara ‘s men who seemed to have surrendered to his estwhile godfather, Nyesom Wike.
The political arrangement had made way for Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win Chairmanship seats in 20 Local Government Areas, leaving three seats for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a Local Government Council elections marked by voter apathy.
Michael Odey, Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), in results declared on Sunday at the Commission’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt, showed APC with strength in an election contested by 17 political parties, including PDP, Labour Party (LP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), among others.
The People’s Democratic Party won Obio/Akpor (Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister’s home LGA), Port Harcourt City and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs, through Gift Onyinye Worlu, Allwell Ihunda and Chukwu Shedrack Ogbogu, respectively.
The three LGAs are said to be politically and economically stronger than most in the State.
All Progressives Congress won the remaining twenty LGAs, including Omuma, Abua/Odual, Andoni, Eleme, Gokana, Khana, Tai, Etche, Emohua, Asari-Toru, Degema, Akuku-Toru, Oyigbo, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Bonny, Okrika, Ikwerre, Ogu/Bolo and Opobo/Nkoro (Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s home LGA).
Odey said certificates of return would be presented to winners on a letter date. BusinessDay, however, gathered that the presentation might not be later than Monday, September 1 or Tuesday September 2, 2025.
Meanwhile, expectations are rife in the State that the conclusion of the much disputed August 30 Local Government Council elections might pave for the lifting of the state of emergency imposed by President Bola Tinubu on the State and a return to office by Siminalayi Fubara, suspended Rivers State governor.
Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while casting his vote at Ward 9, Unit 7, Rumuepirikom on August 30, said the state of emergency would elapse by September 18, 2025.
He said the successful conclusion of the Local Council polls would usher in democracy at the grassroots, thus strengthening governance at that level.
APC’s landslide victory in the elections highlighted Tony Okocha, State Chairman’s position “that the party is ready to take over the State.”
Addressing a party rally before the elections, he said despite “a marriage of political parties” in the State, forged by an unnamed political leader, the APC was eager to go to the polls and win.
Analysts believe that the marriage of political parties is between the APC and PDP, which has given birth to a concept referred to ‘PDAPC.’ They said further that the marriage naturally resulted in the “sharing of chairmanship and councillorship positions between the APC and PDP.”
