…Political Crisis Opens Doors for New Contender in Rivers LG Elections
As Rivers State approaches the October 5 local government elections, the political landscape has taken an unexpected turn. With the two dominant political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), opting to boycott the polls, the previously lesser-known Action Peoples Party (APP) is poised to capitalize on the vacuum created by the ongoing political crisis.
At the center of the controversy is the fractured relationship between former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the current Governor of the state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
The rift between the two PDP heavyweights has resulted in a power struggle that has left Fubara and his supporters marginalized, prompting speculation that many of them have shifted allegiance to the APP to contest the elections.
**PDP’s Internal Crisis Fuels APP’s Rise**
The conflict between Wike and Fubara has torn the Rivers PDP apart, with both leaders vying for control of the party’s political structure.
While Wike continues to hold sway over the party at both the state and national levels, Governor Fubara and his loyalists have found themselves sidelined.
Wike’s influence in the recent PDP congresses ensured his loyalists took control of key party positions, leaving Fubara’s supporters without a platform to contest the upcoming local government elections.
In a move seen as politically strategic, APP has emerged as a new force, quickly filling the void. The party, which was relatively unknown during the 2023 general elections, has now gained momentum, with many of Fubara’s allies reportedly defecting to the APP.
Among them are prominent figures such as Ezebunwo Ichemati, the caretaker chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, and Marvin Yobana, his counterpart in Khana LGA.
Ichemati, now running for chairmanship under the APP, assured that his leadership would bring credible governance if elected. “We will defend the interests of the party (APP) and the state if elected into office.
We will also adhere to the directives to avoid engaging in negative campaigns,” he declared in his campaign message.
Similarly, Yobana announced his defection to APP at an event in Khana Local Council, introducing his preferred successor. “I hereby announce that I have moved to APP, and I introduce to you the person that would be sworn in after the October 5 election as the executive chairman of Khana, Mr. Martins Ibibo,” Yobana stated.
APP’s Growing Influence in Rivers Politics
The APP has wasted no time in consolidating its position as a serious contender in the Rivers local government polls.
The party recently opened a new state office in the GRA area of Port Harcourt, which continued its operations despite an attack during the renovation process.
The party also launched a statewide campaign, visiting all three senatorial districts in Rivers: starting in Bori for the Rivers Southeast, moving to Rivers West, and concluding in Rivers East.
Sunny Wokekoro, the chairman of the APP in Rivers State, has been vocal about the party’s mission. He described the local government election as a “new frontier” in the state’s political landscape, emphasizing that the APP would bring a fresh approach to governance at the grassroots level.
“We will entrench a new system of governance that will touch the lives of the people and positively impact society,” Wokekoro affirmed.
APC and PDP’s Diverging Stances
While the APP campaigns intensively, both the PDP and the APC appear to be sitting out the election. The Tony Okocha-led faction of the APC, recognized by the National Working Committee (NWC), has reiterated its decision to boycott the polls, describing the exercise as a “charade.”
Okocha cited a federal high court order that has put on hold all activities concerning the local government councils, making the planned election legally untenable.
“Governor Siminalayi Fubara should stop deceiving Rivers State people because he knows the election cannot hold while the party has a court case,” Okocha stated. “The election will end in nullity.”
In contrast, the Emeka Beke-led APC faction initially indicated interest in participating in the election. However, there is no evidence of the party fielding candidates or conducting any campaigns.
Similarly, other parties like the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which had earlier expressed interest, have largely remained silent as the election date approaches.
RSIEC Stands Firm on Election Date
Amid the political turmoil, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has maintained that the October 5 local government election will proceed as scheduled.
Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd), the RSIEC chairman, reassured stakeholders that the commission is prepared to conduct a free, fair, and credible election.
Citing state electoral laws and a Supreme Court judgment that affirms RSIEC’s authority, Enebeli emphasized that the election will hold as planned.
“We are fully prepared and determined to conduct a free, fair, credible, and violence-free election,” Justice Enebeli stated, dismissing concerns about the legal challenges raised by the APC faction.
As the countdown to the election continues, all eyes remain on the APP, which seems poised to become a dominant player in Rivers State’s evolving political scene.
