A Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, has responded to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s criticism of the recent local government election in Rivers State. Atiku had expressed concerns over the election results, suggesting that a powerful group was attempting to undermine democratic interests in the state.

The local government election, which took place last Saturday, saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs), while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured three LGAs. The total number of votes scored by the winning council chairmen in the 23 LGAs was 2,028,871. Atiku had called on the opposition to reject the results, stating that they did not reflect the will of the Rivers people.

Olayinka, however, disputed Atiku’s remarks, describing them as “nonsensical.” He pointed out that Atiku had previously failed to condemn the murder of Deborah in Sokoto, and had even deleted a tweet on the subject. Olayinka questioned Atiku’s courage and honesty in speaking out on the election results, given his earlier response to the Sokoto incident.

The exchange between Olayinka and Atiku highlights the ongoing debate over the conduct of elections in Rivers State. The election results have been announced, but the opposition has raised concerns over the legitimacy of the process. The situation is being closely watched, as it may have implications for the broader political landscape in Nigeria.

In the aftermath of the election, the APC and PDP have presented differing perspectives on the outcome. While the APC has hailed its victory, the PDP has expressed concerns over the conduct of the election. The dispute between Olayinka and Atiku reflects the deeper tensions between the two parties, and underscores the need for transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the opposition will respond to the election results, and what steps will be taken to address concerns over the conduct of the election. The development is likely to have significant implications for the political landscape in Rivers State, and may potentially impact the broader democratic process in Nigeria.