Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned Saturday’s local government elections in Rivers State, describing the exercise as “an awful absurdity” and calling on opposition parties to reject the outcome.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had announced the results on Sunday, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) winners in 20 of the 23 local government areas (LGAs). The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured three LGAs: Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt City (PHALGA), and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA). Notably, Governor Siminalayi Fubara lost his home LGA of Opobo-Nkoro to the APC.
Reacting via his official X handle, Atiku described the polls as undermining Nigeria’s democracy. “The local government election conducted by the occupation government in Rivers State is an awful absurdity and a travesty to the very notion of elective democracy,” he wrote.
He accused the APC of manipulating the process to gain undue political advantage. “By the shameful and shambolic manner in which the occupation government went ahead to conduct local government elections in Rivers State, it is clear that the ruling APC party is prepared to throw caution to the wind to achieve an inordinate political advantage,” Atiku said.
The former PDP presidential candidate also called on Nigerians and the international community to take note of what he described as a dangerous course being pursued by the President Bola Tinubu administration. He further urged all opposition parties in Rivers State to reject the results, insisting the election lacked legitimacy.
“At the same time, I wish to share my unflinching solidarity with the good people of Rivers State, who are currently victims of political brigandry by a power cabal bent on overturning their democratic rights at all cost,” Atiku added.
