APC Wins 22 Councils In Rivers State LG Election, Even As Federal High Court Ordered That Status Quo Be Maintained

All Progressives Congress, APC, has won in the 22 local government areas that were contested for in the local government elections held on Saturday in Rivers State. The election was marred by low turnout of voters because of the controversy that trailed the date of the election. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which had gone to court to challenge the council polls, boycotted same, as it had insisted that the time was wrong and the process not transparent.

Similarly, the faction of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led by Mr. Adah Williams, had last Thursday, called on workers in the state not to participate in the elections. But on Friday, the NLC faction led by Mrs. Beatrice countered the earlier announcement by Williams, urging workers to be part of the elections.

On the day of the polls, heavy rainfall worsened the situation, as the rain which started around 5:25 a.m., prevented Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, officials from distributing electoral materials early to the polling units. Voters turned out after the rain which stopped at 12noon. Amidst the controversies and threats, the election was violence free. Voters came out to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice without intimidation.

RSIEC has been commended by some APC chieftains for conducting the local government elections as scheduled despite intimidations. It will be recalled that a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, had earlier ordered parties for the elections to maintain status quo, following a suit by the PDP. It was based on the court directive that PDP boycotted the polls