Atiku, Peter Obi React as APC Sweeps Rivers Elections, Wins 20 of 23 LGAs, "Rascality Taken Too Far"
- The APC in Rivers state won 20 chairmanship seats out of the 23 local government councils in the elections held on Saturday, August 30, 2025
- A disappointed Peter Obi reacted and described the election as "a mockery of democracy"
- On his part, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar slammed the election as "an awful absurdity and a travesty to the very notion of elective democracy"
CHECK OUT: How to Start Earning with Copywriting in Just 7 Days – Even if You’re a Complete Beginner
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering elections, politics, and governance in Nigeria.
Port Harcourt, Rivers state - Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday evening, August 31, condemned the outcome of the Rivers local government (LG) polls.
Legit.ng had reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 20 chairmanship seats out of the 23 local government councils in the elections held on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Source: Twitter
The results, which were announced by Michael Odey, the chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), indicated that the APC won in places like Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Andoni, Asari-Toru, Bonny, Degema, Eleme, Emohua, Etche, Gokana, Ikwerre, Khana, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo and Tai, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Obio/Akpor, and PHALGA.
Reacting, Atiku alleged that the election was not credible.
He said in a statement signed and shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) page:
"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.
"By the shameful and shambolic manner in which the occupation government went ahead to conduct local government elections in RiversState, it is clear that the ruling APC party is not leaving anyone in doubt that it is prepared to throw caution to the wind in order to achieve an inordinate political advantage."
The former PDP chieftain, therefore, alerted well-meaning Nigerians, the international community, and "all friends and partners of Nigeria" to "the dangerous curve that the President Bola Tinubu regime is taking our dear country."
Furthermore, he urged all opposition parties in Rivers state to reject the local government election, saying "the occupation government that conducted the exercise is extraneous to our laws, with absolutely no legitimacy to undertake such a crucial and sensitive assignment."
"I wish to share my unflinching solidarity with the good people of Rivers State, who are currently victims of political brigandry to a power cabal which is bent on overturning their democratic rights at all cost."
Like Atiku, like Peter Obi
In the same vein, a key member of the opposition coalition, Peter Obi, insinuated that the Rivers state LG election should not have been conducted.
Obi said in a statement he personally signed and shared on his verified X account:
"It (the election) represents a double tragedy for our democracy when a Sole Administrator - himself illegally appointed - dares to conduct an election that should empower the people. This is not democracy; it is the outright desecration of its very foundation.
"Such actions are unconstitutional, legally untenable, and morally indefensible. They send a dangerous message that the rule of law can be discarded at the whim of those in power. But the truth remains unshaken: illegality can never give birth to legitimacy. Any structure erected on a foundation of lawlessness is a danger to both the state and the people."
"Such actions are unconstitutional, legally untenable, and morally indefensible. They send a dangerous message that the rule of law can be discarded at the whim of those in power. But the truth remains unshaken: illegality can never give birth to legitimacy. Any structure erected on a foundation of lawlessness is a danger to both the state and the people."
Source: Facebook
The former Anambra state governor added:
"Nigeria cannot afford to continue on this perilous path. We cannot pretend to practise democracy while silencing the will of the people - especially at the grassroots, where democracy matters most."
Rivers' governor's return date
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, assured Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the state house of assembly would return on September 18, when the state of emergency in Rivers elapses.
Wike stated this shortly after casting his vote in the August 2025 local government election in the state.
The former Rivers governor described the election as very peaceful compared to other elections in the state.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
