Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has expressed deep disappointment as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not be participating in the upcoming local government elections, scheduled for October 5, 2024.
In a surprising turn of events, Governor Fubara, a prominent figure in the PDP, described himself as the “biggest loser” in the election, given that his party is not fielding any candidates for the polls.
Speaking on Thursday, October 3, during a meeting with key political stakeholders, Fubara revealed his frustration with the situation.
“I am the biggest loser in this election because my party, the PDP, is not participating,” he stated. “But because of the Supreme Court ruling, there must be elected officials to manage the affairs of the local government. As the governor, I have to respect that ruling.”
The current situation stems from a series of political maneuvers that led to the mass defection of caretaker committee chairmen, who were initially loyal to him, to the Action Peoples Party (APP) on September 24, 2024.
These defections have reshaped the political landscape in Rivers State ahead of the local government polls.
The PDP’s withdrawal from the election sparked outrage among some members of the party, leading to protests in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
On Thursday, October 3, a large crowd of PDP loyalists gathered outside the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt to express their dissatisfaction with the conduct of the local government polls.
According to reports, the protests were organized by supporters of former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Wike, a well-known political rival of Governor Fubara within the PDP, has been at odds with the governor over several key political issues since Fubara assumed office.
The protestors, believed to be Wike’s loyalists, voiced their frustration with the election process and the PDP’s non-participation.
They called for transparency in the election and questioned the integrity of the local government polls without the participation of the PDP.
The protests further highlighted the internal divisions within the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, which have been simmering since Fubara’s ascension to the governorship earlier this year.
Despite the setbacks, Governor Fubara is determined to see the election process through.
Speaking firmly at the political meeting, he insisted that the local government elections must proceed, even without the participation of his party.
“What we are doing here is to make sure that even if my party is not participating, the council process must stand,” Fubara said.
He noted that although many of his party members are not benefiting from the election, they are still supporting the process for the sake of governance.
“A good number of people here are my party people… and you are not even benefiting from it, yet you are here supporting it,” he said, pointing out the irony of the situation.
On the surface, Fubara’s decision to press forward with the elections is largely driven by a Supreme Court ruling that mandates elected officials to manage local governments.
The court ruling emphasised that caretaker committees, which had previously been in place in some local governments, were unconstitutional and could no longer be used.
This ruling forced the state government to organise elections to fill these positions with elected officials.
“As the governor, I have to obey the Supreme Court ruling. It is my responsibility to ensure that elected officials are in place to manage local governments,” Fubara said.
However, political analysts see the move as the governor’s strategic plan to deny his opponents a foothold in the state politics. The PDP is currently under the control of the Wike faction.
Local government elections are crucial in Nigerian politics, as they provide grassroots support and control over local governance.
For a sitting governor, having his party dominate the local government councils is key to maintaining political power and influence across the state.
With the defections to the Action Peoples Party (APP) and the PDP’s withdrawal from the election, Fubara is seeking to consolidate his hold on the state.
Wike’s role in the current political turmoil cannot be ignored.
Wike, who served as governor of Rivers State for eight years before becoming Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has remained a powerful figure in the state’s politics.
His influence within the PDP and among the people of Rivers State continues to loom large, even as Governor Fubara tries to assert his authority.
