Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State dey at the center of a big controversy over the planned local government election for the state. The election, which was supposed to hold recently, has been marred by legal battles and political tensions.
Siminalayi Fubara, the current governor of Rivers State, has slammed Wike and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over the police presence at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office. Fubara accuse them of trying to disrupt the electoral process and undermine the rule of law[4).
The issue has also drawn in the House of Representatives Minority Leader, Ogundu Chinda, who addressed the press on the matter. Chinda emphasized that there is a restraining order from the court against conducting the local government election due to non-compliance with the electoral laws. He stated that the process adopted by RSIEC is null and void and that they need to follow due process as enshrined in the law[5).
Wike, who has been accused of influencing the situation, has been criticized for his role in the crisis. Some have alleged that he is using his influence to ensure that the election does not hold, citing loyalty to him rather than to the people of Rivers State[2).
