The Action Peoples Party (APP) has won 22 out of the 23 local government area chairmanship seats in Rivers State, according to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). However, the results for Etche Local Government Area remain pending due to ongoing collation.
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 pm. 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.
Tony Okocha, the former chairman of the APC caretaker committee in Rivers, also voiced concerns about the election’s legitimacy, accusing Governor Siminalayi Fubara of disregarding a court judgment. He cautioned against declaring what he called “fictitious” results, warning it could spark unrest. “The governor’s attempts to enthrone his proteges into the councils will not work,” Okocha added.
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.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
Follow us on:
 has won 22 out of the 23 local government area chairmanship seats in Rivers State, according to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). However,</p>
){kind=link}