LG Polls: Wike Loyalists Flood APC Chairmanship Slots As RSEIC Releases Final List

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has released the final list of political parties and candidates cleared to contest the August 30 local government elections, with 16 parties given the green light.

The Chairman of the RSIEC, Michael Odey, in a statement, explained that the list followed a screening exercise held at the commission’s headquarters along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, between Friday, August 8, and Tuesday, August 12, in line with the revised election timetable

Beyond the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, other cleared parties include the Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Zenith Party, Accord Party, African Action Congress, Action People’s Party, and the Social Democratic Party.

Others are the Action Alliance, Youth Party, Young Progressive Party, Action Democratic Party, New Nigerian People’s Party, African Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, and the Allied People’s Party.

The PDP fielded only three chairmanship candidates, while the APC presented 20 chairmanship candidates across the state’s 23 LGAs.

The PDP candidates are Gift Worlu for Obio/Akpor, home LGA of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike,  Allwell Ihunda for Port Harcourt City LGA, and Chukwu Ogbugu for Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA.

The APC candidates, mostly loyalists of Wike and many of whom previously served as LGA chairmen during his tenure as governor, include Confidence Deko for Gokana LGA, Chidi Lloyd for Emohua LGA, Obari Ollormate for Eleme LGA, Akuro Tobins for Okrika LGA, and Thomas Bari-ara, among others.

It was observed that the Labour Party and 14 other parties did not field candidates for all chairmanship and councillorship positions in the 23 LGAs.

Meanwhile, the RSIEC Chairman urged political parties and their candidates to check the commission’s headquarters for the posted names.

Speaking at an interactive session with civil society organisations, Odey sought their collaboration, as well as that of security agencies, to ensure a credible poll.