The Centre for Truth and Justice (CTJ) has called for an urgent investigation into the recent local government elections in Rivers State, citing widespread irregularities and a blatant disregard for democratic principles. The elections, held last Saturday, were reportedly marred by violence, intimidation, and various electoral malpractices.
Obinna Francis, Executive Director of CTJ, addressed the press in Abuja, expressing concerns over the electoral process. He alleged that authorities in Rivers State compromised the elections to consolidate power. Notably, a Federal High Court ruling that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voters’ registers to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) was allegedly overridden by the state government.
CTJ condemned the RSIEC’s involvement, questioning the body’s impartiality and independence. The organization also criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara for using proxy parties to push his political agenda. Alarmingly, the Action Peoples Party (APP), a relatively unknown entity, reportedly secured 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats, raising serious concerns about the legitimacy of the elections.
Francis stated, “We condemn in totality the charade, mockery, and total abuse of our democratic process by the purported conduct of Local Government (LG) elections in Rivers State. What transpired is a travesty of democracy, an affront to the will of the people, and a direct assault on the rule of law. The election, conducted within the confines of the Government House, is not only illegal but also a violation of the democratic principles our nation upholds.”
He warned that those responsible for undermining democracy must be held accountable, stating, “If left unchallenged, these actions will set a dangerous precedent for other state governors to follow, leading to the complete erosion of democratic governance in Nigeria.”
In contrast, the Rivers State government and RSIEC defended the elections, asserting that they were smooth, safe, free, fair, credible, transparent, and devoid of violence.