Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has publicly stated that he will be the “greatest loser” in the upcoming local government elections due to the absence of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the polls in the state. His remarks came during a gathering of Rivers political stakeholders at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday, where he addressed preparations for the local government elections.
Fubara emphasized the importance of complying with the law as he said, “Go, do what the law requires of you, as stipulated by the RSIEC Law, and leave the rest. RSIEC will handle its part, and once RSIEC concludes, the government will take it from there, and the process will be completed, by the special grace of God, in a few days.”
He acknowledged the challenges posed by the Supreme Court ruling, which mandates that elected officials must manage local government affairs. “You know, in this election, I am the greatest loser because my party is not participating. It’s the truth! But following the Supreme Court ruling, I must comply.”
The Governor also mentioned that a compliance period of 90 days was agreed upon after a meeting with the President following the Supreme Court ruling. Despite the PDP’s withdrawal, Fubara reiterated the need for the local council process to proceed in Rivers State.
He expressed gratitude to the loyal party members present, acknowledging that many would not benefit from the upcoming elections but remained supportive. “I want to thank you for supporting democracy. I want to thank you for upholding the rule of law. I want to thank you for standing by us to ensure that Rivers State remains a strong member of the comity of states,” he stated.
In conclusion, Fubara encouraged his supporters to remain steadfast and not be swayed by misinformation or propaganda, assuring them that the government would work diligently to maintain stability in Rivers State. “Rest assured that the government will do everything possible to ensure that Rivers State does not descend into confusion,” he added.