Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, has declared the Action Peoples Party, APP winner of 22 out of the 23 chairmanship seats in the local government elections held on Saturday.
Announcing the results in Port Harcourt, Saturday evening, the Chairman of the Commission, Retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli, said the result of Etche Local Government Area and the 319 councillorship positions would be announced in due course after the conclusion of collation.
According to him, the electoral process unfolded across the state’s 6,866 Units with 18 political parties fielding candidates.
Justice Enebeli commended political parties and Rivers people for their commitment to the election, which he described as “smooth, safe, free, fair, credible and transparent”.
He gave the names of the winners as Vincent Reuben Obu – Abua/Odual, Chibudom Ezu – Ahoada-East, Mr Iyekor Ikporo – Ahoada-West, Mrs. Tonye Oniyide – Akuku-Toru, Lazarus Gogote Nteogwuile – Andoni, Dr. Sule Amachree – Asari-Toru, Dame Anengi Barasua – Bonny, Dr. Harry Agiriye – Degema, Chief Brain Gokpa – Eleme, David Omereji – Emohua.
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Others are Monday Dumiye – Gokana, Isreal Abosi – Ikwerre, Martins Nwigbo – Khana, Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo – Obio/Akpor, Prince Isaac Umejuru – Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, Ishmael Oforibika – Ogu/Bolo, Dr. Igwe Achese – Okrika, Promise Reginald – Omuma, Enyiada Cookey-Gam – Opobo/Nkoro, Gift Okere – Oyigbo, Ezebunwo Ichemati – Port Harcourt and Matthew Nenubari Dike – Tai.
With this development, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has effectively taken over grassroots politics in the state, thus enthroning a brand new political structure in the state different from what has been since 1999.
With this too, the Governor now has a solid background to consolidate upon ahead of the next election in 2027.
Analysts describe the outcome of the election as a “Technical knock out” against the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike by Governor Fubara in their first major political confrontation ahead of 2027.
