•Swearing-in of new LG chairmen in Rivers by Governor Fubara
The just-concluded Rivers State local government election, held on Saturday, October 5, was conducted amid fear of possible violence due to the political tension in the state, especially between the incumbent Governor, Sim Fubara and his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Captial Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the last couple of months.
The election, which was overseen by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) was marked by surprising political decisions by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, to boycott the poll, reports Nigerian Tribune.
In the lead-up to the elections, several incidents nearly disrupted the process, especially concerns over the transparency of the election, while tensions flared in certain areas, leading to fears of violence.
To address these challenges, Governor Fubara took a stance, reiterating that the local government elections would proceed as scheduled and warning that the state government would strongly resist any attempts to derail the process.
Despite the initial challenges, many residents of the state trooped out to exercise their franchise, and the Action Peoples Party (APP) emerged as the dominant force, winning 22 out of the 23 local government chairmanship positions.
Announcing the results on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Chief Electoral Officer of RSIEC, Adolphus Enebeli, noted that the results for the remaining local government area, Etche, and the 319 councillorship positions would be declared once collation was completed.
Following their swearing-in by the governor, our correspondent outlines a few things you should know about the newly-elected Local Government Chairmen in Rivers.
1. Tonye Briggs-Oniyide ( Akuku-Toru LGA)
She is the current Rivers State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism. She was appointed in 2015 by Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, replacing Nnabuihe Imegwu.
Briggs was also appointed a member of the Federal Character Commission by President Goodluck Jonathan on 9 July 2013. She assumed office on 17 August, representing Rivers State.
2. Dame Hon. Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox (Bonny LGA)
Dame was re-elected as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Bonny Local Government. She was initially elected in 2021 and has carried out quite a lot of projects during her tenure as a caretaker of the Local Government.
3. Harry Agiriye (Degema LGA)
Elected as the chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Harry Agiriye is a renowned orthopaedic surgeon having over 18 years of experience with a particular interest in Arthroplasty (Knee and Hip surgery).
He is a Fellow of the Medical College of Surgeons of Nigeria (Orthopaedics), West African College of Surgeons and International College of Surgeons and a Member Nigerian Institute of Management.
He was also the former Permanent Secretary/Executive Secretary of Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board.
4. Brain Gokpa (Eleme LGA)
Brian Gokpa previously served as the Caretaker chairman of Eleme Local government and was re-elected again.
5. David Omereji (Emohua LGA)
Hon David Omereji, the new chairman who contested on the platform of the Action Peoples Party (APP) in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State was once the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Egbeda Community.
He was a member of the PDP before defecting to APP.
6. Monday Dumiye (Gokana LGA)
Monday Dumiye, elected as the Chairman for Gokana Local Government Area was also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but his defection to the Action People’s Party (APP).
He once served as the Caretaker Chairman of Gokana Local Government and also the leader of the PDP.
Dumiye had earlier publicly rejected his appointment as a member of the Gokana Caretaker Committee.
7. Prince Isaac Umejuru (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA)
Prince once served as Commissioner for Urban Development under Gov. Siminalayi Fubara.
8. Igwe Achese (Okirika LGA)
Now elected as the Chairman of Okirika Local Government Area, Igwe was a one-time President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers.
He was also the Chairman of the former Labour Union Leaders Association in Rivers State.
9. Ogu/Bolo – Ishmael Oforibika
Ishmael is a renowned Nigerian engineer.
10. Chijioke Ihunwo – (Obio/Akpor LGA)
Chijioke Ihunwo was a serving Caretaker Committee Chairman before he was elected the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government. Ihunwo emerged as chairman of former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s local government where he had served as two-term chairman.
11. Promise Reginald (Omuma LGA)
Promise formally served as the Caretaker Committee Chairman before he was elected as the substantive Chairman of Omuma Local Government Area in Rivers State.
12. Enyiada Cookey-Gam (Opobo/Nkoro LGA)
Rt. Hon Enyiada Cookey-Gam was initially sworn as the executive chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government area in June 2021.
However, he was re-elected in the just concluded Local Government Poll leaving him as the chairman of the Local Government.
13. Oyigbo – Gift Okere ( Oyigbo LGA)
Gift Okere was formerly the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before defecting to the APP and was subsequently elected as one of the 23 local government bosses in the state.
14. Ezebunwo Ichemati (Port Harcourt)
Ezebunwo Ichemati was serving as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Port Harcourt Local Government before being elected as substantive LGA Chairman.
15. Tai Matthew Nenubari Dike ( Opobo/Nkoro LGA)
While serving as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Matthew contested for the position of the Local Government Chairman under the umbrella of Action People’s Congress and won.
16. Lazarus Gogote Nteogwuile (Andoni)
Hon. Lazarus was declared the winner of the Andoni Chairmanship position on the platform of the APP. The new LGA chairman, in a post-election statement, was quoted to have said his emergence is for the development of the Andoni LGA and that he has no enemies to fight.
“I have decided to channel my energy to the development of Andoni as there is no gainsaying that Andoni needs development in almost all facets of life.
“What if we shift our perspective to prioritize development and collaboration, for by working together and supporting this vision, we will create a rising tide that can lift all boats.
I don’t have enemies to fight, the development of Andoni is more paramount and occupies my mind,” he said in a statement.
17. Sule Amachree (Asari-Toru)
Dr Amachree was elected and declared on Saturday by RSIEC as the substantive chairman of the Asari-Toru local government area. The new chairman bagged his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST). He’s currently PhD holder.
18. Martins Nwigbo (Khana)
Nwigbo contested on the platform of the APP at the local government poll on Saturday and was declared as the new chairman of Khana LGA.
19. Vincent Reuben Obu (Abua/Odual )
Hon. Vincent Reuben Obu, Action People’s Party (APP) Chairmanship candidate for the Abua/Odual local government area was among the 22 winners of the chairmanship seats on the platform of the force in the state, APP.
20. Chibudom Ezu (Ahoada-East)
Ezu emerged as winner in the Saturday’s local government poll on the platform of the Action People’s Party (APP) in Rivers State.
21. Iyekor Ikporo (Ahoada-West)
According to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the electorate from Ahoada-West on Saturday elected Iyekor Ikporo as the new boss for the local government area of the state.
22. Isreal Abosi (Ikwerre)
Israel Abosi is a loyalist of the Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, and contested on the platform of the APP for the chairmanship position of the Ikwerre local government area. Abosi is one of the new chairmen recently declared by RSIEC.
23. AA’s Uzodinma Nwafor (Etche LGA)
Meanwhile, Etche local government was the last result announced by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) as collation was still ongoing at the LGA during the first announcement of 22 winners on the platform of the APP.
However, the candidate of Action Alliance (AA), Uzodinma Nwafor, has been declared the winner of Etche Local Government Area (LGA), defeating that of the APP.
Announcing the result of Etche LGA, which was initially withheld due to delays in the collation process, the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Adolphus Enebeli, stated on Sunday that the AA defeated the APP in the poll. He added that the APP, on the other hand, won all the 19 councillorship positions in the area.
