Atiku hails Fubara as APP wins 22 of 23 Rivers LGAs

• PDP gets 30 of 31 in A/Ibom; APC clears Benue, Jigawa,

• We’ll challenge outcome in court – Senator Moro

By Baba Martins (Abuja), Victor Edozie (Port Harcourt), Hope Abah (Makurdi), Iniabasi Umo (Uyo) & Ali Rabiu Ali (Dutse)

A former presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has commended the people of Rivers State, and the state governor, Sim Fubara, for “rejecting oppression” in last Saturday’s local government elections in the state.

Atiku in a post on his X handle, thanked the people for their steadfastness “in the face of adversity” and ensuring that the election unfolded with peace and integrity.

The former vice president said, “As prophesied, it has now been revealed that the citizens of Rivers are astute and resolute, unwavering in their rejection of any form of political oppression, harassment, or the machinations of self-serving godfathers.

“As I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected local government leaders, I urge them to wear the welfare of the people as their foremost badge of honour and shun tyranny and delusional ambition in their political endeavours.

“I must also applaud Governor Fubara for his unwavering commitment to the people’s interests, safeguarding the sanctity of the local government elections even amidst provocative challenges.”

Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli, had announced 22 chairmanship candidates of the Action Peoples Party (APP) as winners of last Saturday’s local government elections in Rivers State.

He said the APP candidates scored the majority of valid votes cast in the election in two-thirds of their respective wards in the 22 LGAs, hence their declaration as winners.

Yesterday, Justice Enebeli declared that the APP candidates won 314 of the 319 wards in the local government elections.  He however, announced a candidate of the Action Allianc (AA), Uzodinma Nwafor as winner of Etche LG poll in the state.

Credible sources hinted that Governor Fubara was to swear in the newly elected chairmen yesterday at government house, Port Harcourt.

Recall that the local government caretaker chairmen in Rivers State recently defected from the PDP to the APP, following the rift between the state governor, Fubara, and his predecessor, who is currently the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike. Political analysts have said the decision was a prelude to Fubara’s defection to the APP, a claim the governor punctured.

APC sweeps Benue poll

However, Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Richard Tombowua, has announced chairmanship candidates of the ruling APC as winners of the election held in all the 23 local government areas of Benue State.

Tombowua also declared the APC councillorship candidates winners of all the 276 council wards in the state, leaving none for the PDP and other opposition parties.

PDP will challenge result in court – Senator Moro

But the senator representing Benue South and Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, has said his party, the PDP, will challenge the outcome of the election in court.

Moro in a statement by his media aide, Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John, described the election as “a sham and an insult to democracy.”

He enjoined members of the PDP to remain calm, saying, “Everything will be done to challenge the charade in a court of competent jurisdiction.”

 PDP gets 30 LGs in A/Ibom

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won elections in 30 of the 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State. This was announced by the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak.

Daily Trust reports that the APC only won in Essien Udim, the local government area of the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio.

Also, the APC won all the 27 local government areas in Jigawa State according to the state electoral body.