President Bola Tinubu has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other political figures in Rivers State to remain calm and adhere to the rule of law. He emphasized the importance of resolving conflicts through the judiciary, stating, “Self-help has no place in a democratic system.”
This appeal comes in the wake of reports of arson and vandalism targeting public facilities following last Saturday’s local government elections. In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu ordered police forces to secure public properties to “restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.”
The statement, titled “President Tinubu decries violence in Rivers, directs police to provide security to local government offices,” highlights the political unrest in the state.
The recent elections saw the Action People’s Party (APP) emerge dominant, winning 314 of the 319 available councillorship seats across Rivers’ 23 local government areas. Justice Adolphus Enebeli, Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, announced these results in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
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While the APP claimed 314 wards, other parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, and Young People’s Party, secured only one seat each. Both the Rivers State PDP and factions of the APC disputed the election’s legitimacy, asserting that no elections took place that day. The PDP, loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, has vowed to challenge the results in court.
Incumbent Governor Fubara has already inaugurated the newly elected council chairmen, further heightening tensions as supporters from opposing camps have begun to clash over public facilities.
In response to the escalating situation, Onanuga relayed the President’s deep concern regarding reports of violence and destruction in the region. He stated, “He urged all political actors to de-escalate the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions.”
The President directed law enforcement to take immediate steps to restore order, highlighting the need to protect public institutions funded by taxpayer money. He reiterated, “Self-help has no place in a democratic system, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy.” Tinubu asserted that the judiciary is equipped to resolve political disputes, with this election being no exception.
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