*State Run By PDP, But Not Controlled By PDP, Says Bala Mohammed
*Election Lacks Credibility, Says Observer Group
RIVERS State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the newly elected local government chairmen to adopt his governance strategy of patience and calculated decision-making as they assume office.
Fubara, who gave the advice during their swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, October 6, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, following the local government election on Saturday, October 5, said the dispute surrounding the poll had come to an end.
From the results declared by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RIEC), the Action Peoples Party (APP) secured victories in 22 of the local councils, while the Action Alliance (AA) won one.
At the inauguration presided over by Fubara and attended by the Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, the governor assured the new chairpersons that the election outcome would stand the test of time, cautioning them about the potential for unrest when they assume office.
He also alerted them of planned confrontations by disgruntled groups, noting: “I’m aware that there are plans to mobilise 20 people per unit to confront you when you return to your local government headquarters,” he revealed.
But he urged them to remain calm and avoid engaging in any violence, adding: “If they come with violence, avoid them. The peace of this state is too important to us. Everyone knows what they are planning, but I urge you to follow my approach.”
Fubara stressed the need for patience and strategic thinking, saying: “At the right time, you will always win if you are patient and calculative. We have made our promises to our people and we are committed to leading them to the Promised Land.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Bala, while praising Fubara for the success of the elections, said the state is run by PDP, but not controlled by PDP.
On his part, a former vice president and presidential candidate of PDP in last year’s general election, Atiku Abubakar, tasked the newly elected council chairpersons to prioritise the welfare of its citizens and shun tyranny.
In a statement on his X account, on Sunday, October 6, Atiku said: “As I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected local government leaders.
“I urge them to wear the welfare of the people as their foremost badge of honour and shun tyranny and delusional ambition in their political endeavours.”
He commended the resilient people of Rivers State for their steadfastness in the face of adversity, courageously ensuring that the election unfolded with peace and integrity.
He added: “With the conclusion of the local government election in Rivers State, the shadows of political intimidation and judicial chicanery have dissipated, paving the way for the noble pursuit of governance to commence in the state.
“From the bustling heart of Port Harcourt to the tranquil shores of Onne, the populace has spoken in harmonious unison, affirming that nothing can better democracy.
“As prophesied, it has now been revealed that the citizens of Rivers are astute and resolute, unwavering in their rejection of any form of political oppression, harassment, or the machinations of self-serving godfathers.”
He also acknowledged Fubara’s unwavering commitment to the people’s interests, safeguarding the sanctity of the local government elections, even amid provocative challenges, noting: “In the grand tapestry of this election, it is ultimately the people who emerge victorious, their sacred right to choose their leaders firmly upheld within the framework of our democratic process.”
However, not everybody appears to agree, as an observer group that monitored election, The Peoples Advocates (TPA), said the exercise was not credible due to a number of irregularities.
In its report on the election, TPA, while commending the RSIEC for conducting the election, noted that the poll witnessed several irregularities, such as absence of result sheets, violence and improper collation process, among others, which it said undermined its credibility
“While we appreciate the effort of RSIEC to conduct this election at such a tough time as this in the political history of Rivers State, we believe that there is need for improvements in order to set a fair playing ground for all political parties and candidates in order to ensure a free and fair election.”
“At Phalga LGA, D. Line Ward 1 units 8,9,10; Ward 4 units 48, 49, 50, 51; Ogbunabali Ward 3, Ward 2, Oroworukwu Ward 9 units 5,6,7,8,9, etc, the absence of Result Sheet undermined the credibility of the process, because agents of Labour Party (LP) and other interested political parties asked for Result Sheets and moved to stop the polls if the Result Sheets weren’t produced.
“This systemic flop of RSIEC affected the credibility of the polls and risked the life of the Ad-hoc staff.”
TPA also faulted the manual voting process used in the election, which it said is not only outdated, but is also prone to manipulation of results, adding: “The manual voting process of RSIEC and use of incident form is archaic and prone to manipulations.
“Electronic voting and transmission of results is the best way to go in order to have a credible free and fair elections wherein the votes of the electorates or voters will truly count. Early closure of polls disenfranchised some electorates.”
According to the report: “Materials did not arrive in time or at all in some polling units and cubicles were not used for secret balloting. The implication is that such open balloting may sway the votes of electorates who may suffer reprisal attacks if they don’t vote a particular party or candidate.
“Our Situation Room observed that the process did not create any solid internal mechanism for grievance or dissent before the results are announced. Such pattern may encourage violence or discourage genuine candidates who have legitimate complaint.
“Irregularities in some polling units should be addressed before results are announced. This is to avoid announcing results in polling units where elections did not hold or where the election was fraught with fraud, snatching of ballot materials, violence etc. and some of such incidents were witnessed in this election and the candidates affected, would be left with the only option of going to court. This is a systemic flaw, capable of occasioning injustice.
“Our observers were lost as to where your Ward and State Collation should take place and who is allowed into your “holy sanctuary” to witness the collation and how you arrived at your results.
“A closed collation process is prone to manipulations and should be avoided. Cumulated results should be fact-checked with polling unit results for credibility. The truth is that the entire election lacks credibility.
“The entire process is skewed to favour the candidate or party of the government in power.
“If the government of the day was in a good relationship with PDP, PDP would have won the entire seats.
“Such a pattern stiffens fair competition and churns out unpopular or incompetent leaders who may just be enjoying political patronage or settlement.”
Recall that the Chairman of RSIEC, who is also the Chief Election Officer, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), while declaring the results, said the announcement was suspended in Etche Local Council because the results collation was ongoing and the result, as well as those of the 319 councillorship positions would be announced upon the conclusion of the collation.
RSIEC later declared Uzordinma Nwafor of the AA as winner of the poll in Etche Local Government Area.
The election was conducted amid gunshots, bomb explosions and protests from the PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to a former governor of the state and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Mr. Nyesom Wike.
The Nigeria Police Force had earlier announced that it would not provide security for the poll following conflicting courts judgments, further heightening anxiety and tension across the state ahead of the exercise.
But despite these, voter turnout was reported to be substantial across most of the 23 councils, commencing early, as RSIEC had successfully distributed sensitive and non-sensitive materials.
The conflicting positions of RSIEC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concerning the release of the 2023 voter register did not stop the exercise, as RSIEC insisted it had actually received the register before the Abuja court ruling barring INEC from doing so.
However, violence erupted in areas where suspected political thugs and some men in Police uniforms wreaked havoc in a bid to stop the election.
