31st August 2025, NewsOrient, News, Politics, Governance And Development.

There has been mixed reactions over yesterday’s Local Government Elections in Rivers State.

While some people argued that the grassroots election is part of the fulfilment of the agreement reached between Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a bid to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State, others said the LG election under the imposed Sole Administrator, Ibom Ekwe Ibas, a retired Military Chief, is neither in the interest of the people of Rivers State nor that of democracy.

For a example, a legal practitioner, Chetam Nwala, in an interview with Channels Television, said yesterday that instead of conducting the controversial election, Tinubu should restore democracy in Rivers State as “LG poll is not in the interest of Rivers State residents.’

Nwala said the local election slated to take place in Rivers State, today, Saturday, August 30, 2025, is not in the best interest of the people.

He said though a boycott might not stop the poll from holding, as the state’s electoral commission might go ahead with the process, it still does not rule out the fact that the election is not in the best interest of the people of the state.

Also Nwala said the alleged agreement reached between Fubara and Wike on the local government election was not in the interest of the people.

He explained that even if Fubara is reinstated as Rivers State governor, “he cannot clear out the destruction of democratic structures that has happened in the state.

“We are not fighting for Fubara at all; we are fighting for the soul of Rivers State and demanding that what is right should be done.

“Whether the governor has had an agreement with the FCT Minister to carry out what they are doing currently, what we are saying is that it is not our concern right now. But the things happening in Rivers State are wrong and a defecation on our constitution.

“I am not here to push the influence of Fubara. Of course, I’m less concerned about whether he is the Governor or in the House of Representatives, but restore the democratic system to Rivers State.

“Democracy should be seen and done in Rivers State, and not the protection of individual influence, whether the influence of the FCT minister or the governor,” Nwala said.

*Mid-March 2025, in the height of the political crisis in Rivers State, Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for six months and appointed a sole administrator, Ibok Ekwe Ibas.

The decision of the president was criticised by many who felt it was in favour of Fubara’s estranged former godfather and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

In June, Fubara, Wike and other political actors in Rivers State met with Tinubu in Abuja in a bid to resolve the political conflict between the camps.

It was reported that one of the points agreed at the meeting was to conduct a local government election.

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

For News, Inter
views, Special Events Coverage, Advertisements, Corporate Reports, etc., Contact:
Email: Newsorientng@gmail.com

Website: https://newsorientng.com
Phone: +2348023165410; +2348064041541