No Election in Rivers State Says Pro Wike Assembly Members

The claim that there’s “No Election in Rivers State” from pro-Wike assembly members appears to stem from ongoing political tensions and legal battles within Rivers State’s political landscape, particularly concerning the control of the Rivers State House of Assembly and local government elections. Here’s a breakdown based on the information available up to October 5, 2024:

1. Political Background: The conflict largely revolves around factions loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and those aligned with the current Governor Siminalayi Fubara. This has led to a divided House of Assembly with both groups claiming legitimacy.
2. Legal Disputes: There have been significant legal actions regarding the status of lawmakers, especially those who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Court of Appeal ruled in favor of recognizing the pro-Wike faction as legitimate members, overturning a previous decision by the Rivers State High Court. However, this ruling has been contested, with appeals filed to the Supreme Court by the pro-Fubara faction, arguing that the State High Court indeed had jurisdiction over the matter.
3. Local Government Elections: The statement about “No Election” might relate to the local council polls scheduled for October 4, 2024. There was considerable tension and legal maneuvering around these elections, with both PDP and APC initially protesting against the conduct of these polls due to various reasons, including legal challenges against the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). Despite these protests, the elections were set to proceed, indicating that there was indeed an election planned, contrary to the claim of “No Election.”
4. Interpretation of “No Election”: This could be interpreted in several ways:

• Political Rhetoric: The statement might be more of a political statement or protest against the legitimacy or conduct of the elections rather than a factual claim that no election was occurring.
• Legal and Political Stance: It could reflect the legal position of the pro-Wike faction, suggesting that due to ongoing disputes over the House of Assembly’s composition, any decisions or actions, including authorizing or conducting elections, might be seen as lacking legal or political legitimacy by them.
• Misinformation or Misinterpretation: Given the complexity, there’s also a chance for misinformation or misinterpretation where claims might be taken out of context. The actual situation involves elections being scheduled and contested, not entirely absent.

Given this context, the claim of “No Election” from pro-Wike assembly members seems more aligned with their political stance against the process or legitimacy of the local government elections or broader governance issues in Rivers State, rather than a literal absence of an election. However, without direct quotes or further context on their exact statement, this interpretation remains speculative based on the known political and legal environment in Rivers State as of early October 2024.