Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is set to swear in the newly elected local government chairmen today, Sunday, 6th October 2024, at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, by 4 pm.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, dated 6th October 2024. The statement further noted that the chairmen, accompanied by one guest each, should be seated by 3:30 pm.
Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), declared the results of the 5th October local government elections, announcing 22 chairmanship candidates from the Action Peoples Party (APP) as winners. These candidates secured a majority of votes in two-thirds of the wards in 22 local governments.
However, the result for the Etche Local Government chairmanship was postponed due to the large number of wards, which delayed the collation process.
Despite the electoral victory, the election was marred by violence in several areas. At Elekahia Primary School, Port Harcourt, heavily armed men in police uniforms disrupted the voting process, firing tear gas and causing panic. Explosions were also reported at the APC Secretariat on Aba Road and the Obio/Akpor Local Government Secretariat.
The Rivers State Police Command has responded swiftly to the violent incidents and has begun investigations.
