Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the outcome of the Rivers State local government elections, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) claimed 20 out of 23 chairmanship seats, leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with just three.
The elections, held on Saturday, August 30, saw APC secure a historic landslide, winning in key LGAs including Khana, Gokana, Etche, Oyigbo, and Ikwerre.
The PDP held onto Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni — its traditional strongholds.
Below is a breakdown of the results as announced by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC):
Abua/Odual – APC (Ofori Owolabi, 28,755 votes)
Ahoada East – APC (Solomon Achoma, 54,509 votes)
Ahoada West – APC (Eugene Ebele Cheta, 84,125 votes)
Akuku Toru – APC (Bob Fubarab A., 63,593 votes)
Andoni – APC (Prince Lucky Promise Otuo, 126,181 votes)
Asari Toru – APC (George Onengiyeofori, 56,383 votes)
Bonny – APC (Pepple Abinye Blessing, 30,543 votes)
Degema – APC (Michael George Williams, 61,536 votes)
Eleme – APC (Obarilomate Ollor, 77,452 votes)
Emohua – APC (Lloyd Chidi Julius, 114,308 votes)
Etche – APC (Njoku Boniface Chima, 100,649 votes)
Gokana – APC (Deborah Confidence, 96,478 votes)
Ikwerre – APC (Wobodo Charles, 62,746 votes)
Khana – APC (Thomas Bariere, 156,027 votes)
Ogu/Bolo – APC (Vincent Nimieboka, 36,374 votes)
Okrika – APC (Akuro Alfred Tobin, 32,285 votes)
Omuma – APC (Obasi Uchechukwu, 38,530 votes)
Opobo/Nkoro – APC (James A. James, 34,822 votes)
Oyigbo – APC (Okechukwu Akarao Nwogu, 101,495 votes)
Tai – APC (Okwe Mbakpone, 70,080 votes)
Obio/Akpor – PDP (Dr. Gift Onyinye Wodo, 328,823 votes)
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni – PDP (Chukwu Shedrach Ogbodo, 51,051 votes)
Port Harcourt – PDP (Sir Allwell Ihunda, 235,054 votes)
Reacting to the development on Sunday, Atiku described the result as “worrying for democracy,” alleging that the elections were heavily influenced by “undue interference and manipulation.”
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“This outcome does not reflect the will of the people of Rivers State who have consistently stood with the PDP since 1999. The massive swing to the APC raises questions about the credibility of the exercise,” Atiku said in a statement issued by his media team.
He further urged the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to provide full transparency on the conduct of the polls, while calling on PDP members across the country to remain resilient.
The polls, which were largely peaceful but witnessed low voter turnout, are being seen as a turning point in the state’s politics following months of crisis that led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency earlier in the year.
Atiku warned that democracy at the grassroots must not be undermined for political convenience, adding that “a weakened PDP in Rivers State translates into a weakened opposition in Nigeria.”