Rivers LG poll: Fubara to swear in new chairmen today

The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, will swear in the newly elected council chairmen today, Sunday, 6 October 2024, at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Tribune Online reports that the Action Peoples Party (APP) secured 22 out of the 23 chairmanship positions in the election held across the state on Saturday.

In a press statement dated 6 October 2024 and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, it was disclosed that the swearing-in ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. today. 

According to the statement, the newly elected chairmen, along with one guest each, are expected to be seated by 3:30 p.m.

Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, declared the victory of 22 APP chairmanship candidates in the local government elections held on 5 October 2024.

Speaking in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Enebeli explained that after the collation of results, the candidates secured a majority of valid votes in two-thirds of their respective wards across the 22 local government areas.

He further noted that the result for the chairmanship of Etche Local Government was withheld due to delays in the collation process, caused by the area’s vast landscape, which consists of 19 wards.

However, the election was marred by violence in some areas, where suspected political thugs and individuals dressed in police uniforms caused significant disruption.

Tribune Online also reports that, ahead of the election on Saturday, explosions rocked the secretariats of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). The blasts caused considerable damage, bringing down the gate and destroying doors, windows, and other property within the premises.