Wike and Fubara Battle for Supremacy in Rivers State LG Polls
There’s rising tension in the political scene as four states—Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Benue, and Jigawa—hold local council elections today. In Rivers State, things are especially heated due to a power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Abuja Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike. Both are trying to control the political structure at the grassroots level.
The election in Rivers is marked by confusion. The national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supports the election, urging members to participate, while the Rivers State PDP, loyal to Wike, advises people to boycott it. To add to the tension, the police, citing court orders, announced they wouldn’t provide security for the election, leaving it to other agencies.
Governor Fubara, accusing the police of bias, insisted the election would go ahead despite the court order. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) also vowed to proceed. Meanwhile, the Action Peoples Party (APP) backed the RSIEC, disowning a faction in Rivers that opposed the election.
In Akwa Ibom, a fierce contest is brewing between Governor Umo Eno of the PDP and Senate President Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with both boasting about winning. In Benue, the APC and PDP are also locked in a close battle, possibly setting the stage for the 2027 general elections.
These elections follow a recent Supreme Court ruling that stopped federal funding to councils without elected officials, giving states 90 days to hold elections. Several states are preparing to hold similar polls in the coming weeks.
Governor Fubara, speaking at a press conference, accused the police of attempting to disrupt the election in Rivers by raiding RSIEC’s offices. He described how he personally stopped the police from seizing election materials and criticized their actions as unlawful. Fubara questioned why the police, and by extension, the federal government, seemed to be singling out Rivers State for such interference. He emphasized that local elections must happen as part of democratic governance, with security agencies protecting the process, not obstructing it.
While the Rivers State police have withdrawn from the election, citing a Federal High Court ruling, RSIEC, backed by a state court decision, is determined to go ahead. National PDP leaders have supported the election, but the Rivers PDP branch urged a boycott, emphasizing the need to follow the law.
In the midst of all this, prominent figures like human rights lawyer Femi Falana have called for maintaining law and order, urging the police to ensure peace during the election.
In Akwa Ibom, Governor Eno and Senator Akpabio both predicted victory for their parties, fueling an intense political showdown. Despite court battles and tension, local elections in these states are pressing ahead amidst significant political drama.
