Fubara Absent As Wike Allies Dominate Rivers Council Election

The local government election in Rivers State took place on Saturday, but the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, stayed away from the exercise.

His absence immediately raised concerns among political observers and voters in his constituency.

Those closely aligned with the governor also did not participate. Edison Ehie, his Chief of Staff, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, the Secretary to the State Government, and the 23 former council chairmen removed from office, were missing at the polls. Members of the Simplified Movement, the political group that supports Fubara, were equally absent from voting centers across the state.

In Fubara’s ward at Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, materials for the election arrived before noon, and expectations were high that the embattled governor would make an appearance. However, when the exercise ended by mid-afternoon, he had not turned up to cast his ballot. Residents later confirmed that the governor had travelled to London and did not return for the election.

The governor’s absence left questions about his view of the process and whether he accepts its credibility. Many in his hometown noted that his polling unit was open for the exercise, yet he did not show up, creating uncertainty over his political intentions.

While Fubara stayed away, the structure of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, operated under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda and took charge of the polls. Supporters of Wike, who is now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election and the outcome that followed.

Reports indicated that an agreement had been reached before the polls on the sharing of council seats. The All Progressives Congress under the leadership of Chief Tony Okocha was allotted 20 chairmanship positions, while the Peoples Democratic Party was given three.

The three PDP slots reportedly covered Obio/Akpor, Wike’s home local government area, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni. The arrangement left Wike’s loyalists with firm control of key councils while his rival stayed on the sidelines.

The outcome of the election has set the stage for deeper political rivalry in the state, with Wike’s group consolidating its strength and Fubara’s camp sending mixed signals about its next move.