The Peoples Advocates (TPA), a civil society group that monitored Saturday’s local government elections in Rivers State, has declared the exercise as lacking credibility due to multiple irregularities.
In its post-election report, TPA highlighted numerous issues that marred the election, which was held across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, despite legal and political hurdles. The group expressed concern over the fairness and transparency of the poll, which has led to widespread debate over the integrity of the process.
The election, conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), faced opposition from various quarters, particularly the camp of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who sought to halt the exercise. However, Governor Sim Fubara proceeded with the election, defying a court order that barred RSIEC from conducting it.
Despite the legal controversy, the All People’s Party (APP), largely seen as loyal to Governor Fubara, secured victories in 22 of the 23 local government areas. The widespread dominance of the APP raised concerns among opposition parties and civil society groups, who pointed to irregularities and potential bias.
While TPA commended RSIEC for managing to conduct the election amidst a challenging political atmosphere, it emphasized that serious flaws undermined the credibility of the entire process. “While we appreciate the effort of RSIEC to conduct this election at such a tough time as this in the political history of Rivers State, we believe that there is need for improvements in order to set a fair playing ground for all political parties and candidates in order to ensure a free and fair election,” the group stated.
Some of the irregularities cited by TPA include the absence of result sheets, instances of violence, and the improper collation of results. These issues were observed in several areas, notably in Phalga Local Government Area (LGA), where multiple polling units experienced significant disruptions.
In particular, TPA’s report noted that in D. Line Ward 1 units 8, 9, and 10, as well as in Ward 4 units 48, 49, 50, and 51, and Ogbunabali Ward 3, the absence of result sheets severely compromised the process. Agents of the Labour Party and other political parties reportedly demanded the production of result sheets, threatening to halt the election if their demands were not met. “This systemic flop of RSIEC affected the credibility of the polls and risked the life of the ad-hoc staff,” TPA’s report concluded.
Violence was another major concern raised by the observer group. Incidents of voter intimidation and clashes between party agents were recorded in several wards, leading to fears that the electoral process was hijacked by vested interests. TPA called for better security measures in future elections to safeguard the lives of both voters and electoral officials.
The improper collation of results was also highlighted, with allegations of tampering and discrepancies between polling unit results and the final figures announced by RSIEC. The group urged electoral bodies to prioritize transparency and the sanctity of the collation process to avoid such controversies in future elections.
In its concluding remarks, TPA urged the Rivers State government to investigate the irregularities and hold those responsible accountable. It also called for a review of the electoral laws governing local government elections in the state to ensure that such issues are addressed ahead of future polls.
As Rivers State grapples with the aftermath of the elections, the controversy over the fairness of the process has cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the results. The Peoples Advocates emphasized the need for immediate reforms to restore public trust in the electoral system, stating that “a credible election is the bedrock of democracy, and all stakeholders must be committed to upholding this principle.”
The group also called on opposition parties and civil society organizations to remain vigilant and continue advocating for electoral reforms to prevent similar irregularities from occurring in future elections.
