The Traffic

Fubura vs Wike:

PDP Backs Out of Rivers LG Election.

Yakubu Haruna Yakubu 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has decided to boycott the upcoming local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024. This decision was made after a stakeholders' meeting at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt, where state party Chairman Aaron Chukwuemeka announced that the party will await the court verdict on a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ¹.

The APC's suit has led to a court order restraining the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) from proceeding with the election. Chukwuemeka emphasized that the PDP is not a party to the suit but will respect the court's order. He urged party members to stay away from any election-related activities, citing the party's commitment to being law-abiding.

The boycott is also linked to the defection of Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the PDP to the Action People's Party (APP). This defection was reportedly sparked by the alleged hijack of the state PDP structure by Governor Fubara's predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike ¹ ².

The ongoing misunderstanding between Fubara and Wike has led to a political crisis in the state, with many council chairmen and their supporters joining the APP. As a result, most candidates vying for chairmanship and councillorship positions are now running under the APP platform, with campaigns already underway.

*Key Factors Behind PDP's Boycott Decision:*

- _Court Order_: The APC's suit and subsequent court order restraining RSIEC from proceeding with the election

- _Defection of Fubara's Men_: Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Fubara defected from PDP to APP

- _Alleged Hijack of PDP Structure_: Governor Fubara's predecessor, Nyesom Wike, allegedly hijacked the state PDP structure

- _Political Crisis_: Ongoing misunderstanding between Fubara and Wike leading to a crisis in the state ¹ ²