Atiku Urges Opposition to Reject Rivers LG Poll Results, Calls Election “Awful Absurdity”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned Saturday’s local government elections in Rivers State, branding the exercise “an awful absurdity” and urging opposition parties to reject the results.

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had on Sunday declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner in 20 out of 23 local government areas, leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with just three Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni. Notably, Governor Siminalayi Fubara lost his home LGA of Opobo-Nkoro to the APC.

Reacting in a statement on his official X handle, Former Vice President Atiku said the outcome undermined Nigeria’s democracy and accused the ruling APC of manipulating the process for political gain.

Atiku on X

“The local government election conducted by the occupation government in Rivers State is an awful absurdity and a travesty to the very notion of elective democracy,” Atiku wrote.

“By the shameful and shambolic manner in which the occupation government went ahead to conduct the polls, it is clear that the ruling APC is prepared to throw caution to the wind in order to achieve an inordinate political advantage.”

The PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate further urged Nigerians and the international community to take note of what he described as “a dangerous curve” in Nigeria’s democracy under President Bola Tinubu.

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He also called on opposition parties in Rivers to outrightly reject the results, arguing that the election lacked legal legitimacy.

“The occupation government that conducted the exercise is extraneous to our laws, with absolutely no legitimacy to undertake such a crucial and sensitive assignment,” Atiku said.

Expressing solidarity with Rivers residents, Atiku described them as “victims of political brigandage” and warned against what he sees as an attempt to undermine their democratic rights.