*Ibas Says Poll Peaceful, Orderly
*Wike: Fubara Returns In Three Weeks
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has been announced as winner in 20 of the 23 local councils in the chairmanship and councillorship elections held on Saturday, August 30.
The ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner in the remaining three council by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Recall that PDP’s Governor Siminalayi Fubara reportedly lost his Opobo-Nkoro Council to the APC.
RSIEC Chairman, Michael Odey, announced the results at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt on Sunday afternoon, August 31.
The poll was boycotted by Fubara and his supporters, including his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, the 23 local government chairmen in the prevous and annuled poll, as well as others, such as
members of the Simplified Movement, an organisation loyal to Fubara, did not participate in the election.
Instead, Fubara is expected to be recalled to office on September 18, travelled to London and did not return for the election, thereby handing Wike’s political structure in the APC
It was gathered that the election had already been planned, that the poll would be won by candidates produced by Wike’s political structure in APC and PDP, a clean sweep.
The 20 seats were given to the Tony Okocha-led faction, and the three seats in Wike’s Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Councils.
Wike had earlier hinted that Fubara will be reinstated on September 18, saying the coast was clear for the lifting of the state of emergency in the state.
The ministe gave the indication shortly after casting his vote about 11:00 am in Unit 007, Ward 9, Rumuepirikom, Obio/Akpor Council.
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Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), had described the poll as peaceful and orderly, saying it was a decisive step toward restoring democratic governance at the grassroots.
Ibas, who monitored the exercise across several areas, including Emohua, Ahoada East and Port Harcourt, said the conduct of voters and election officials led to a calm and secure atmosphere.
Speaking with journalists, Ibas said: “I am very happy with what I have witnessed today. The process has been notably peaceful, from the significant turnout to the orderly conduct of both voters and election officials.
“I am confident that at the end of the day, we will have a credible set of results that we will all be proud of as a state.
“Generally, the situation has been calm and seamless across the state. We have not received any major negative reports, which is a testament to the collective desire for peace and normalcy.”
Ibas added that reports from the 23 councils were consistent with his observations and the exercise reflected the people’s wish to elect leaders they could identify with at the grassroots.
He stated: “Certainly, all indigenes of Rivers State want and deserve grassroots leadership they can call their own. That is what this process represents.
“Facilitating this foundational tier of democracy is a core objective of my mandate: To put the state back on a stable, democratic path and empower its people.”
