Jake Epelle, Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, has criticised the conduct of the August 30 local government elections in Rivers State, describing the exercise as unconstitutional and a “democratic scam.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Mr Epelle argued that the polls, conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), lacked legitimacy and were not a true reflection of the will of the people.
“It’s unfortunate we’re living in interesting times, especially politically speaking, and what played out in Rivers State on Saturday can only be described as unprecedented political manoeuvring, which is a sham and looks like a democratic scam,” he said.
Mr Epelle further claimed that the process violated constitutional provisions and did not reflect actual voting patterns in the state. He added that the outcome was “a slap on the people of Rivers State.”
According to results announced by RSIEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in 20 out of the 23 local government areas, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured victory in three.
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Epelle noted that the figures declared were inconsistent with what transpired during the exercise, warning that the elections could spark a constitutional crisis as they would likely be contested in court.
“I called on the people, especially the youth of Rivers State, not to fall into the trap of violence,” he said, stressing that resistance should come through legal and constitutional channels.
The elections, held on Saturday, were the first major council polls in Rivers State since the prolonged political crisis that has polarised the state’s ruling elite.