The Action People’s Party (APP) has won 22 chairmanship positions out of 23 in Saturday’s Local Government election in Rivers State.
APP is backed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but has since lost control of the party. His predecessor and godfather, Barrister Nyesom Wike, who is now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, but insisted on being a PDP member, supported the All Progressives Congress, which controls the Federal Government.
The Chief Election Officer of the state Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Adolphus Enebeli declared the results on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
However, the state electoral umpire suspended the declaration of results for Etche Local Government Area because the collation was ongoing.
The RSIEC chairman also said that announcement for the 319 councillorship seats would be made alongside that of the Etche chairmanship position when collations are concluded.
He described the election as free, fair, and credible, despite all odds. According to him, polls were closed at 3 pm and recorded a large turnout of voters.
Enebeli saluted the patriotism of the residents who turned out to vote.
The declaration of the results was observed by members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, chairmen of state independent electoral bodies across the country, and members of the Nigerian Bar Association who acted as observers in the polls.
He said the commission “adopted the principle of bi-location because of the exigencies” they found themselves.
The results were announced at the Ministry of Justice Hall at the State Secretariat complex, rather than the Commission’s office on Aba Road.
