Ahead of the August 30 local government election in Rivers State, loyalists of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, have been nominated as the chairmanship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Chief Tony Okocha-led leadership of the party.
From the list of candidates posted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), Wike’s men, in a surprising shift of party loyalty, were cleared to contest the election on APC platform.
Most stakeholders were said to be amazed at the way the minister was able to integrate the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into one united political family ahead of the poll.
While notable PDP members were said to have switched party loyalty to APC to contest the election, three other Wike’s loyalists were asked to remain in PDP and contest the poll.
While most people attributed the development to the ongoing crisis rocking the PDP at the national level and its implications to the Rivers local government election, others said it was part of the strategic positioning of the state by Wike to deliver bloc votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
The 20 Wike’s foot soldiers flying the chairmanship flags of the APC for the election are Confidence Deko, Gokana Local Government; Dr. Chidi Lloyd, Emohua; Obari Ollormate, Eleme; Akuro Tobins, Okrika; Dr. Thomas Bari-ara; George Onengiyeofori, Asari-Toru; Bob-Fubara Aboiya, among others.
It was observed that the political family of Wike produced only three chairmanship candidates on PDP platform.
The PDP candidates are Dr. Gift Worlu for Obio/Akpor, Wike’s home local government; Allwell Ihunda for Port Harcourt City Council and Chukwu Ogbugu for Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government.
RISIEC had cleared 16 political parties to contest the elections after a screening held at the commission.
Apart from the PDP and the APC, other parties cleared for the poll are Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Zenith Party, Accord Party, African Action Congress, Action People’s Party, and Social Democratic Party.
Others are Action Alliance, Youth Party, Young Progressive Party, Action Democratic Party, New Nigerian People’s Party, African Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement and Allied People’s Party.
It was noticed that the APC and the PDP had inaugurated their campaign councils and begun campaigns for the election.
The two political parties featured messages of Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu and drummed support for his re-election in 2027.
The leadership of the Renewed Hope Political Family in Emohua Local Government inaugurated the campaign council for the election of Sir Chidi Lloyd as chairman, Mrs Amadi Vivian Obiageri as vice chairman and 14 councillors,
The inauguration was performed by former Chief of Staff Rivers State Government House and NOSDRA Director General, Chief Chukwuemeka Woke.
Lloyd, the former chairman of Emohua, said he would not take the opportunity for granted, promising to improve on the achievements of his first term in office.
He urged members of the campaign council to open the doors for new members and returnees from other political groups to the Renewed Hope Political Family.
