Rivers Election Crisis: PDP Governor Urges Colleagues to Fly Down, Support Democracy
A crisis is unfolding in Rivers State, Nigeria, as a prominent member of the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere, has called on governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to fly down to the state and stand in solidarity with their Rivers State colleague, Siminalayi Fubara.
Ugochinyere made the urgent appeal on his social media handle on Friday, as the state prepares for Saturday’s local government election. He claimed that the right of Rivers people to vote is under attack from federal agents, and urged the PDP governors to put aside petty squabbles and rally behind Fubara’s efforts to defend democracy at all costs.
The lawmaker argued that if serious opposition governors were sincere about defending democracy, they would already be in Rivers State, standing side by side with Fubara as a show of solidarity. Instead, they appear to be "drinking tea" while democracy hangs in the balance.
The crisis escalated when police officers allegedly attempted to steal electoral materials, a move deemed treasonable by Ugochinyere. He urged opposition governors to strongly condemn the action and stand with Fubara against those who seek to undermine democracy in Rivers State.
The tension in Rivers State has many wondering if democracy will be able to prevail in the face of intense political opposition. With Ugochinyere’s call for solidarity, one thing is clear: the fate of democracy hangs in the balance, and the world is watching to see how it will play out.
