Rivers State Council Elections Defy Odds: Wike's Abuja Backed Power Play Fails to Halt Voting

Rivers State Council Elections Defy Odds: Wike's Abuja Backed Power Play Fails to Halt Voting

Port Harcourt, Nigeria - October 5, 2024

Despite contentious attempts by Nigeria's Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to control Rivers State from Abuja, council elections are underway in the state.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, has been accused of imposing his influence on the current administration, led by Governor Sim Fubara, who took office on May 29, 2023. The move has sparked tensions, turning Rivers State into a war zone.

The contentious relationship between Wike and Fubara stems from Wike's alleged double standards during the 2023 general elections, which earned him the FCT ministerial position.

In recent months, Wike has been linked to multiple court orders aimed at halting the October 5 council elections. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Governor Fubara chased away heavily armed police officers from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office in Port Harcourt, asserting his authority over the land.

The police officers, allegedly acting on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, an ally of Wike, were reinforced following Fubara's intervention.

Despite these challenges, voting is currently underway in many local government areas of Rivers State.

Sources close to the situation indicate that the election's outcome may determine the balance of power in the state.

Stay tuned for further updates.