Fubara Skips Rivers Council Election Amidst Recall Speculation

Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his key supporters were notably absent from Saturday’s local government elections, fuelling intense speculation about his potential return to office next month.

The election for chairmanship and councillorship positions proceeded without the participation of Fubara’s political camp. The governor was not present in his home local government area of Opobo, with sources indicating he was not even in the state at the time of the poll. His Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, Secretary to the State Government Dr. Tammy Danagogo, and other prominent allies also failed to appear at voting centres. Members of the Simplified Movement, a socio-political group loyal to Fubara, were similarly absent from the process.

This conspicuous boycott occurred amidst growing anticipation that Fubara will be reinstated when the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu expires on September 18. The president had suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the state assembly members for six months in March amid a protracted political crisis between the governor and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, appointing a sole administrator to oversee state affairs.

Interestingly, Wike himself expressed confidence that the path was clear for Fubara’s return. After casting his vote in Obio/Akpor LGA, the minister stated: “I do know that by September 18, the state of emergency will expire and the state assembly will come back to their job, and we will have a government at the grassroots level. The coast is clear for the state of emergency to be lifted, being that the state government has its representative and the local government has its representatives, so we are good to go.”

The election itself was dominated by the All Progressives Congress, which fielded candidates in 20 of the 23 local government areas. The Peoples Democratic Party, which both Wike and Fubara belong to, only presented three chairmanship candidates. Reports indicated widespread voter apathy, empty polling units, and logistical challenges including the non-use of BVAS machines and delayed distribution of materials.

State Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.), who monitored the exercise, described it as peaceful and “a crucial step towards restoring democratic governance at the grassroots.” He expressed satisfaction with the process, stating: “I am confident that at the end of the day, we will have a credible set of results that we will all be proud of as a state.”

Fubara’s supporters maintained a conspicuous silence. His Senior Special Assistant on Media, Boniface Onyedi, simply said: “I can’t make any comment for now. Let’s wait till next week.”