A recent Local Government Area election in Rivers State has been met with widespread criticism, with a prominent figure from the All Progressives Congress, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, describing the process as a “sham.” According to Eze, the election was managed by a team appointed by the Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ette Ibas, in a manner that raises questions about its legitimacy.
The election, which took place last Saturday, saw only 23 contenders for the chairmanship of the 23 local government areas, all of whom are associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Eze has pointed out that the result sheets for the entire polling units of the state were allegedly hijacked and taken to a private hotel in Port Harcourt, where the results were reportedly manipulated.
Eze has urged the public to disregard the results of the election, citing a lack of participation from voters in several local government areas, including Emohua, Ikwerre, Obio-Akpor, and Port Harcourt City. Despite the low turnout, the electoral body still declared winners, with some candidates reportedly receiving tens and hundreds of thousands of votes.
In one notable instance, Eze alleged that in Emohua Local Government Area, ad-hoc staff were seen thumb-printing ballot papers for the APC, as not a single voter turned up at the polling units. The declared winner, Chidi Lloyd, was said to have received over a hundred thousand votes, raising questions about the integrity of the process.
Eze’s criticism of the election comes amid a broader context of political tensions in Rivers State. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has faced criticism in the past for his handling of elections, including the 2023 presidential election, in which he allegedly failed to deliver votes for his preferred candidate.
The outcome of the Local Government Area election is likely to be contested in court, with Eze expressing confidence that the results will be overturned due to the alleged irregularities. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the electoral body and the relevant authorities will respond to the criticisms leveled against them.
