The Action Peoples Party (APP) has emerged triumphant in the recent local government elections in Rivers State, securing 22 out of the 23 available chairmanship positions.
The announcement was made by Justice Adolphus Enebeli, the Chief Electoral Officer of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The election, which took place across 6,866 units in the state, saw participation from 18 political parties. However, notable absentees included the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), who chose not to participate. Despite this, the election was described as "smooth, safe, free, fair, credible and transparent," according to Enebeli, who praised the commitment of the political parties and the people of Rivers State.
The results for Etche Local Government Area were withheld due to ongoing collation, and the announcement for the 319 councillorship seats will be made once the process is complete. The election day was not without its challenges, as two explosions were reported in Port Harcourt, including one at the APC Secretariat on Aba Road, causing serious damage. Gunshots were also heard in parts of the city, adding to the tension surrounding the polls.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara remained resolute in his determination to see the election through, despite a court order barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to RSIEC. The police, citing security concerns, initially refused to provide security for the election but later deployed personnel to safeguard the RSIEC office.
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