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Local Govt Elections As A Referendum
The much-awaited local government elections in Rivers State would become a reality, by the Grace of God on the 5th of October, 2024. From all indications, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission would fulfil one of the landmark political directives of Governor Siminalayi Fubara on that date.
In the midst of unexpected distractions and challenges from the direction of the immediate past Governor of the state, Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, it became absolutely necessary that Fubara must visibly assume control of the structures of government and governance which the former Governor had claimed to be under his control and even dared that they should not be tampered with.
That was inspite of the fact that Local Governments constitute a tier of government as contained in the Nigerian Constitution, just as other tiers of government like the Federal and State Governments.
Indeed, the Nyerishi Mbam as Wike is being currently addressed by his supporters surprisingly claimed that those whom he claimed to have fixed as Chairmen and Councillors of the 23 local government areas were members of his political structure and should remain untouched even after the end of his tenure.
To affirm that ridiculous claim, another arm of Wike’s superficial structures, the defected House of Assembly members, also purportedly enacted a law to extend the tenure of the chairmen and Councillors for a period of six months
That seemed to have broken the patience and tolerance of Governor Similayi Fubara to call off the bluff of Nyesom Wike and put the issue of the Local Governments on its proper perspective.
Secondly, it became absolutely necessary to conduct local government elections after the Supreme Court’s decision for the direct funding of all Local Governments in the country.
The apex court had clearly directed that only democratically elected Local Governments would be entitled to the allocations.
That was basically the reason to justify the holding of the elections which are also being held in other States around the country.
The supporters of the former Governor failed to make any justifiable case against the appointment of Care Taker Committees in the respective Local Government Areas to manage the affairs of that tier of government and avoid a vacuum while awaiting the election of substantive office holders.
Most previous administrations in the State had carried out similar exercises when the need arises including. the Wike administration.
It would be recalled that when the initial preparations for the Local Government elections were announced, the two parties of” a leprous hand”, as the Late Senior Advocate, Bola Ige would say, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress in the State announced their intention not to participate in the elections.
The reason for that decision was not farfetched because the two parties were and being controlled by the former Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Chukwuemeka Aaron, the Chairman of Wike’s arm of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state repeated the party’s stand not to contest the elections.
However, the boycott of the elections by the Tony Okocha faction of the APC does not diminish the wide acceptance of the forthcoming elections. About 20 registered parties are falling over themselves on their decision to participate in the elections.
The elections would produce 23 Local Government Council Chairmen and almost 400 councillors.
Already, the State is agog with campaigns by the candidates and their respective parties, going round all the nooks and crannies of all the wards in the local governments.
Pundits are already predicting that voters would be more excited to participate in an election that is being touted as the most credible than previous and similar exercises ever held in the State.
Indeed, Tony Okocha, the most vitriolic critic of Governor Siminalayi Fubara had openly stated in a news interview that during their time, when he was the Chief of Staff in one of the previous administrations, they were writing the results or outcome of the elections in the (his) office rather than allowing the appropriate body, the Electoral Commission to do its job.
Contrary to that infamous practice, the Fubara administration had declared not to be involved in the electoral process.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, has indicated that it is on ground and it is adequately prepared for the elections.
The Rivers State citizenry is massively informed and educated on the need to turn-out in their thousand to vote for their candidates in all the wards and local governments of the States.
The parties and their candidates are demonstrating a positive sense of democracy which was so much lacking during the last Presidential and Legislative elections.
In view of the wide public acceptance of the elections, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission is being expected to produce a free, fair and transparent election.
Political pundits are pointing out an interesting scenario, arguing that the positive approval given to the holding of the elections is clearly transmuting to a referendum to finally nail the political reality on ground that a greater majority of people in Rivers State are solidly behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara in his policies, programmes and projects.
Those in this school of thought believe that despite the distractions, intimidations and blackmails from his political opponents, Sim is steadfastly carrying out his projects and programmes unperturbed.
Their argument is that the elections should equally rate as a referendum of approval for SIM.
The massive enlightenment programmes of the various Simplified movement are yielding positive results and political consciousness in the Rivers political space,
The Simplified Movement is present in all the Local Government Areas of the State. There is also the senior citizens’ version that is called the Supreme Council for Sim.
Indeed, there are numerous support groups for SIM, to the extent that it is being openly advertised that the Governor’s entry to politics has agitated and uprooted a political culture that was enmeshed in docility and disinterest in politics and its negative colorations we had witnessed in the past.
That is the reason why the elections could be tagged as a referendum of sorts.
Amabipi Martins
Elder Martins is former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation resides in Port Harcourt.
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