Rivers Structure: APP, Fubara Now Hold The Ace
Edith CHUKU
Amidst the protest by the PDP in Rivers State, against the October 5 local government elections, the chairmanship candidate of the Action Peoples Party, APP, Mr. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, has secured a landslide victory in Opobo/Nkoro, the LGA of the incumbent governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, of the PDP.
In same vein, Mr. Chijioke Ihunwo of the APP has also been declared winner of the local government chairmanship election, in Obio/Akpor, the LGA of the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
Cookey-Gam and Ihunwo were among the 22 other candidates of the APP who were declared winners in the chairmanship election by the state Independent Electoral Commission RSIEC.
Though Fubara’s party; PDP, did not participate in the election, but the 22 candidates who were declared winners by RSIEC are his loyalists that dumped the PDP to contest the election under the platform of the APP.
Addressing the press, observers and polling agents at RSIEC office Port Harcourt, the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli, retired, described the election as smooth, safe, free, fair, credible, successful, violent-free and most treasured election.
In his address, Enebeli recalled that “on Monday the 1st July 2024, the 6th Commission of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission headed by my humble self as Chairman and Chief Electoral Commissioner held a general stakeholders meeting during which the timetable of activities and guidelines for the 2024 local government council elections in Rivers State was unveiled and 5th October fixed for the election.
“Thenceforth, several political parties indicated their interest to participate in the election, about 18 out of the registered political parties in the federation, resident in Rivers State partook in it, they had party primaries, candidates were screened and subsequently cleared to contest as chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors from the various wards and local government areas of Rivers State.
“The Commission embarked on enlightenment and sensitization campaign to educate the citizens on their democratic rights and the importance of exercising their franchise.
“In keeping with extant regulations, the Commission displayed the register of voters in all the 6,866 polling units of the state, while political parties embarked on campaigns to canvass votes from their supporters.”
The RSIEC chairman noted that things were progressing smoothly until the ten-day protest that he said gripped the nation, adding that the protest led to stagnation of social, economic and political activities.
“That aside, several illegal obstacles and court cases were instituted against the commission by persons and parties, despite these obstacles the commission remained unbowed and ensured that the 5th October date remained as sacrosanct as it’s invariable, especially after the Supreme Court judgment of 11th July 2024.
“It is therefore heartening that I stand before you all today to affirm the smooth, safe and free, fair, credible and transparent, all inclusive, successful, violent-free and most treasured conduct of the 2024 Rivers State local government council elections despite all odds.
“Votes were closed across the state by 3pm today, before then, there was large turnout of enthusiastic citizens who came out to exercise their franchise even in the midst of heavy down pour witnessed this morning.
“Results have been tripping in since closure of vote, and the good people of Rivers State and residents have spoken through the ballot and they are in ecstatic expectation of the results of this historic election.
“The Commission on behalf of the people of Rivers State salute the patriotism the resolve residents and support of the overall majority of Rivers State people and residence.”
Declaring the results, Enefeli said “after painstaking collation of results at the close of votes by our team of officials, regarding the local government council elections conducted this day, the 5th of October 2024, the following candidates haven scored majority of lawful or valid votes cast in the respective wards, comprising their respective local government areas of Rivers State.
“I hereby return as elected chairmen or chairwomen, they are: Vincent Reuben Obu – Abua/Odual, Chibudom Ezu – Ahoada-East, Mr Iyekor Ikporo – Ahoada-West, Mrs. Tonye Oniyide – Akuku-Toru, Lazarus Gogote Nteogwuile – Andoni, Dr. Sule Amachree – Asari-Toru, Dame Anengi Barasua – Bonny, Dr. Harry Agiriye – Degema, Chief Brain Gokpa – Eleme, David Omereji – Emohua.
“Others are Monday Dumiye – Gokana, Isreal Abosi – Ikwerre, Martins Nwigbo – Khana, Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo – Obio/Akpor, Prince Isaac Umejuru – Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, Ishmael Oforibika – Ogu/Bolo, Dr. Igwe Achese – Okrika, Promise Reginald – Omuma, Enyiada Cookey-Gam – Opobo/Nkoro, Gift Okere – Oyigbo, Ezebunwo Ichemati – Port Harcourt and Matthew Nenubari Dike – Tai.”
He assured that the details or statistics of the respective scores would be published in RSIEC website and made available to the public and all contestants.
Further, the RSIEC chairman noted that the councilorship election result into 319 wards, spread across the 23 LGA of the state would be declared subsequently, together with that of Etche that has been stood down.
