LG Election: Here Comes The Much Awaited Season

• Political parties produce candidates, prepare to participate in the forthcoming local government elections

By PHC Telegraph

The stage appears set in Rivers State for Rivers voters to exercise their franchise in choosing those who should serve them as chairmen and councillors at the grassroots.

According to the timetable released by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, the forthcoming local government elections will take place at the end of this month.

It will be the second time that Rivers people will leave their comfort zones in the city, semi urban centres and the countryside to cast their votes in a local government council election.

Recall that the outcome of the first LGA elections conducted months ago by RSIEC, was quashed by the Supreme Court.

In reaching its decision, the Supreme Court held that certain provisions of the nation’s Electoral Act were not duly followed by the electoral body.

Following that ruling, Governor Siminala-yi Fubara ordered elected chairmen as well as councill-ors to go home and directed RSIEC to organise new elections.

It is assumed, all things being equal, that whatever mistakes were purportedly made by RSIEC in the conduct of the last election, have been corrected as it moves to organise another election.

Already, some of the results arising from Saturday’s conduct of local primaries by some political parties are being released.

So far, the outcome of the chairmanship  primaries conducted in at least 15 LGAs by the APC and the PDP have been released.

Those LGAs are Asari Toru, Emohus, Khana, Tai, Okrika, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Omuma.

Others are Degema,  Port Harcourt, Ogu/Bolo, Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Abua/Odual, Gokana and Etche.

We have learnt that Onengiyeofori George was returned on the platform of the APC in Asari Toru while Chidi Lloyd of the PDP won in Emohua.

Charles Wobodo of the APC was declared winner of the primaries in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Thomas Bariere Ariar of the  APC in Khana while Mbakpone Okpe also of the APC was declared in Tai as the chairmanship candidate.

Akuro Tobin of the APC came tops in Okrika, Shedrack Chukwu of the PDP in
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Uchechukwu Obasi of the APC in Omuma and Michael Williams of the APC in Degema Local Government Area.

In Port Harcourt, Allwell Ihunda was elected as a candidate on the platform of the PDP, Vincent Nemioboka of the APC in Ogu/Bolo, and Owolobi Ofori of the APC in Abua/Odual.

Gift Worlu of the PDP was returned in Ohio/Akpor, Chima Njoku of the APC in
Etche and Confidence Dekor of the APC in Gokana.

From the trend that is emerging, the APC in Rivers State is gradually gaining some ground.

Insiders say that most candidates that have so far been returned through the primaries on the platform of the APC and the PDP are part of the structure of the FCT Minister.

Given the preponderance of candidates that are coming from the APC to contest in the local government council election, the President’s party appears to be firmly in the driving seat.

In most of the South South states, this is the case as most Nigerians begin to think of who should lead them in 2027.

Many link the trend in Rivers State and indeed in the South South to the actions of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike who has thrown his lot behind President Bola Tinubu and the soft spot that the Governors of the South South, including Fubara, have for the President.

With the primaries out of the way, public attention would be turned primarily in the direction of the next critical stage of the election process –  the period of open air campaigns.

The open air campaigns will enable the masses understand what is in stock and why they should also participate in the process.

From what we have heard, campaign outfits are being established right from the ward level by the political parties that are participating in the forthcoming local elections.

The candidates and their political parties, fresh from their victory in the primaries, have barely enough time to sell their agenda to potential grassroots voters.

At a meeting with stakeholders drawn from different political parties in the State, the Rivers State Independent Election Commission, the electoral body had assured the people while unveiling its agenda that it would execute its legal and constitutional responsibility.

Ahead of the primaries, party strategists had agreed on the deliberate choice of acceptable candidates who would be part of their political slates.

Political Correspondents who have been keeping a wary eye on political events report that several meetings were held by various political groups prior to the primaries.

“What followed on Saturday was merely some sort of dress rehearsal”, a source told the Port Harcourt Telegraph.

“The actual selection and confirmation of those who are parading as chairmen and councillors was concluded Friday night”, the source added.

Until 2.00am, early Saturday morning, according to what we have gathered, finishing touches were made to complete candidate forms and compile the list of candidates, local government by local government.

Those consensus candidates who were handpicked were formally presented for adoption to party delegates as preferred candidates of their respective platforms.

Peace has reportedly returned to Rivers State, with most top players caught in a vicious web of great uncertainty waiting to see how the implementation of the process will pan out.

Wike and Fubara have equally been meeting, some say, to rob minds on a number of issues and these meetings published in the media and the social media are seemingly giving hope to some Rivers people.

Not many expect a charged political atmosphere when political parties in the State go on campaign and voters file out of their homes on voting day to cast their votes, given the resolution of the Rivers crisis.

Not many people who believe election results would be written think that RSIEC would be able to conduct free and fair elections that will be transparent.

But RSIEC has pledged that it will deliver free and fair elections and provide a level playing field for all who will participate in the said election.

Materials, it has assured, will arrive at various voting points on time on voting day, so active voters can exercise their franchise.

From all indication, RSIEC has been collaborating with INEC in a bid to obtain sensitive and reliable data relating to the Voters Register.

Swearing in top officials of RSIEC, the Sole Administrator, Ebok-Ete Ibas urged them to organise credible elections.

“Your task is clear but demanding: to conduct free, fair, transparent, and credible elections at the grassroots level.

“You must resist bias, favoritism, and external interference while restoring public confidence in the electoral process.

“The independence of your actions is crucial to sustaining peace, stability, and grassroots governance. I urge you to act with fairness, impartiality, and professionalism—even in the face of difficult choices,” Ibas told the chairman and commissioners of RSIEC.

Meanwhile, INEC has warned State Independent Election Commissions to abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act.

INEC Chairman, Professor Muhmud Yakubu who met with heads of state electoral bodies warned that steps being adopted by State Independent Election Commissions do not align properly with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court.

He advised leaders of these commissions to set realistic timelines, wondering how some SIECs could accomplish processes leading to local government elections within a 21-day window.

Notwithstanding INEC’s concerns, the much awaited season when new leaders at the grassroots would be elected is here.

How will the political parties conduct their campaigns? How will the Rivers people react when voting day arrives? What will RSIEC do? Will there be court actions challenging RSIEC? What will be the ground for such legal actions?

These questions and others that may be bogging the minds of so many people would be answered as the days leading to the local government council election draws close.