Rivers State’s Local Government Elections Decried as Sham, Autocratic Power Grab

In a scathing press conference, the Centre for Truth and Justice (CTJ) has condemned the recent Local Government elections in Rivers State, Nigeria, as a travesty of democracy and a blatant disregard for the rule of law. The group’s Executive Director, Obinna Francis, accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of undermining the democratic process, violating every principle that Nigeria stands for.

According to Francis, the elections were conducted without transparency, accountability, or legitimacy, and were instead a coronation of Governor Fubara’s puppets. The CTJ criticized Governor Fubara’s unilateral suspension of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and installation of a three-man committee to function as the state assembly, which Francis described as a "mockery of the democratic process."

The group also highlighted Governor Fubara’s use of proxy parties to advance his political agenda, including the Action Peoples Party (APP), which "won" 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats in the elections. Francis called this result "a culmination of a highly orchestrated and manipulated electoral process aimed at securing Governor Fubara’s dominance over local government structures in the state."

The CTJ urged relevant authorities, including the National Assembly, judiciary, and international community, to intervene and restore the rule of law in Rivers State. The group also called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and defend democracy, emphasizing that the actions of Governor Fubara threaten the democratic progress made as a nation.

"We condemn in totality the charade, mockery, and the total abuse of our democratic process by the purported conduct of Local Government (LG) elections in Rivers State," Francis said. "What transpired in Rivers State is a travesty of democracy, an affront to the will of the people, and a direct assault on the rule of law."

The CTJ urged the judiciary to revisit the sham court orders that have enabled Governor Fubara’s illegal actions and restore their integrity by ensuring that justice is served and that Governor Fubara is held accountable for his actions.

The group’s demands come as a warning to other state governors who may be tempted to follow in Governor Fubara’s footsteps, leading to the complete erosion of democratic governance in Nigeria. As the CTJ’s Executive Director put it, "The abuse of power by Governor Fubara and his enablers must not go unchecked. The rule of law must be restored, and the democratic rights of the people of Rivers State must be protected."