Rivers: Fubara’s CTC Chairmen Emerge APP Chairmanship Candidates

In a not too surprising twist, several members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including those who were appointed three months ago as caretaker committee chairmen by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, have now emerged as Chairmanship candidates under the Action People’s Party (APP) for the October 5 local government election in Rivers State. 

This follows the heated up political climate caused by the internal crisis in the PDP which continues to witness intriguing events.

The CTC Chairmen who emerged candidates of the APP are Chijioke Ihunwo of Obio/Akpor, Ezebunwo Ichemati of Port Harcourt, Brain Gokpa of Eleme, David Omereji of Emohua, John Ngubo-Otamiri of Etche, Promise Reginald of Omuma, and Mathew Dike of Tai.

Also emerged as candidate of the APP are Enyiada Cookey-Gam of Opobo/Nkoro and Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox of Bonny Local Government Areas, the two Council Chairmen in the immediate past administration who refused to support the controversial 6 months tenure elongation.

Other popular personalities to feature in the forthcoming election under the banner of the Action People’s Party are a former National President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Igwe Access for Okirika Local Government Area, a serving Commissioner for Urban Development, Isaac Umejuru for Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the immediate past administration, Ms Tonye Oniyide-Briggs for Akuku-Toru and a Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service, Dr. Harry Agiriye.

Eighteen Political Parties are said to have field candidate for the election, including a faction of the All Progress Congress (APC) led by Mr. Emeka Beke who was recently affirmed by a court as the authentic Chairman of the Party.

However, the PDP which has never lost local government control since 1999 is about to do so following its decision to abstain from the poll.

Like the faction of the All Progressives Congress led by Tony Okocha, the State PDP Chairman, Chukwuemeka Aaron cited litigation as its reason for the party’s withdrawal from the polls.

Regardless of the claims, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) led by a retired State High Court Judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli is insisting on conducting the polls.

As election day approaches, political observers are closely watching how the PDP’s decision to sit out the contest and the exodus of its members to rival parties will impact the party’s long-standing dominance in the state.

This could mark a significant shift in Rivers State’s local government administration and the political landscape at large.