Several loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara have emerged as candidates for chairmanship under the Action People’s Party (APP) for the upcoming local government elections in Rivers State, scheduled for October 5.
These candidates were appointed just three months ago as caretaker committee chairmen by the governor.
The announcement comes amid an ongoing internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which Governor Fubara is a member of.
The caretaker committee chairmen who have now declared their candidacies for the APP include Chijioke Ihunwo from Obio/Akpor, Ezebunwo Ichemati from Port Harcourt, Brain Gokpa from Eleme, David Omereji from Emohua, John Ngubo-Otamiri from Etche, Promise Reginald from Omuma, and Mathew Dike from Tai.
In addition to these new candidates, Enyiada Cookey-Gam, who served as the council chairman for Opobo/Nkoro, and Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox, the former chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, are also joining the APP. Both of these individuals had previously opposed a controversial six-month tenure extension during the last administration.
The upcoming local elections will also see the participation of other notable figures under the APP banner. This includes Igwe Access, a former National President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) representing Okrika Local Government Area. Additionally, Isaac Umejuru, a current Commissioner for Urban Development, will run for Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, while Ms. Tonye Oniyide-Briggs, a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, is set to contest for Akuku-Toru. The APP will also field Dr. Harry Agiriye, a Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service.
Eighteen political parties are reportedly fielding candidates for these elections. This includes a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Mr. Emeka Beke, who was recently confirmed by a court as the legitimate chairman of the party.
Interestingly, the PDP, which has dominated local government elections in Rivers State since 1999, has chosen to abstain from the upcoming polls.