Tension grips the political landscape today as voters in Rivers, Benue, Akwa Ibom, and Jigawa head to the polls for local government elections.
Despite the autonomy granted to local government areas, many fear the ruling parties in these states will once again sweep all available chairmanship and councillorship seats.
Political analysts are skeptical that these elections will differ from previous ones, where governors played a decisive role in selecting winners. Concerns have been raised that these elections will follow the pattern of those recently held in Kwara, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Anambra, where ruling parties dominated all the seats.
In addition to the fear of a ruling-party clean sweep, other issues include internal party crises, court orders, and boycotts that could impact election results or prevent the polls from holding altogether.
Rivers
The political atmosphere in Rivers State is particularly volatile. The local government polls come amid fierce political struggles, especially within the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Analysts predict the Action People’s Party (APP) could win big today, following a wave of defections to its camp from factions of both the PDP and APC. This shift includes some local government caretakers who are loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who has been at odds with his predecessor, former governor and now Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Governor Fubara, who is rumored to be aligning with the APP due to growing tensions with Wike, has denied any plans to defect from the PDP. Meanwhile, the APC remains divided, with one faction loyal to Wike boycotting the polls, while another, backed by former governor Rotimi Amaechi, is set to participate.
Complicating matters further, the Nigeria Police Force has vowed to uphold a Federal High Court ruling that bars today’s election. Governor Fubara has insisted the election must proceed, placing responsibility for any security breakdown on the Inspector General of Police.
Benue
Benue’s election sees deep divisions within the two main parties, the PDP and APC. The PDP is embroiled in factional fights between loyalists of former governors Gabriel Suswam and Samuel Ortom. The newly inaugurated State Working Committee (SWC), backed by Ortom, found itself locked out of the party secretariat yesterday, adding to an already charged atmosphere. There are also allegations of manipulated party congresses, leading to ongoing legal battles.
On the APC side, factions loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, continue to clash, making unity a distant goal even as a caretaker committee tries to manage the tension.
Akwa Ibom
In Akwa Ibom, political analysts have described the opposition parties, including the APC, as unprepared and disorganized ahead of today’s polls. Despite the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the APC is struggling with internal divisions that have hampered its campaign efforts. However, Senator Ita Enang, the head of the APC’s Local Government Election Campaign Council, expressed confidence in their preparedness.
Governor Umo Eno has assured all parties of a fair playing field, though the APC leadership remains distrustful of the state’s electoral commission.
Jigawa
In Jigawa State, strict security measures have been put in place for today’s election, with the police banning all vehicular movement from midnight to 6pm, except for essential services. The police have also warned political parties and their supporters against the use of violence or weapons during the electoral process.
As voters in these four states head to the polls, the outcome remains unpredictable, with the shadow of internal strife and judicial interventions looming large over the proceedings.
