Governor Siminalayi Fubara has solidified his control over the political landscape of Rivers State following the Action Peoples Party (APP)’s landslide victory in the local government elections. The APP claimed 22 of the 23 available local government chairmanship seats, with results still pending in Etche Local Government Area, according to Justice Adolphus Enebeli, Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

This triumph is viewed as a major shift in the state’s political structure, following the defection of caretaker committee chairmen loyal to Governor Fubara from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APP. The mass defection reportedly stems from Nyesom Wike, Fubara’s predecessor, allegedly hijacking the PDP’s state structure.

Fubara’s supporters, dissatisfied with Wike’s control, defected to APP, participating in the elections while Wike’s loyalists withdrew from the race. Despite a legal challenge and accusations of foul play, Fubara remained resolute in pushing forward with the election, even as the police withdrew from providing security for the process.

Meanwhile, the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed strong disapproval of the elections. APC’s South-South chairman, Victor Giadom, cited discrepancies with legal provisions as the reason for the party’s boycott, arguing that the election process was flawed. Former APC Caretaker Committee chairman, Tony Okocha, warned against declaring the election results, accusing Fubara of circumventing court orders and predicting that such an action could lead to unrest.

Similarly, Rivers PDP chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, cautioned that announcing the results would risk inciting violence, emphasizing the importance of obeying court judgments. Both parties criticized the conduct of the election, signaling ongoing tensions as the final chairmanship results remain awaited.