Samuel Omang
The political landscape of Rivers State was dramatically altered on Sunday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) swept to victory in the state’s local government chairmanship and councillorship elections, winning 20 out of the 23 local government areas.
The outcome delivered a humiliating blow to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has long dominated the state’s politics but managed to secure only three local governments in Saturday’s polls.
In what many observers described as the biggest upset of the exercise, Governor Siminalayi Fubara lost his Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area to the opposition APC, a result that underscores the shifting balance of power in Rivers politics.
Announcing the results at the commission’s headquarters along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Dr. Michael Odey, confirmed the APC’s emphatic win. He commended security agencies for maintaining order and praised voters for their peaceful participation.
The elections, which were closely monitored by local and international observers, were generally described as free and fair, though there were isolated reports of intimidation and tension in some communities.
Political analysts say the results could have far-reaching implications for the 2027 general elections, positioning the APC as a formidable challenger to the PDP’s once-unchallenged dominance in Rivers State.
The development is also expected to heighten tensions between Governor Fubara and his political rivals, with the defeat in his home council seen as a symbolic setback that may weaken his influence within the PDP and embolden the opposition further.
For the APC, the landslide victory represents not just a win at the grassroots but also a statement of intent ahead of the battles to come.