Following the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd) as the sole administrator of Rivers State, a lot of willing aspirants for the incoming LG election have said they will not contest until suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara is reinstated.
But the aspirant for Asari Toru Ward One, Hon Seineri Onengiyeofori George decided to reason differently, saying he will contest if LG election is conducted under Ibas’ regime.
Though the August date for the election seems not to be realistic due to the suspension of all political appointees of the state government, including the chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission, Retired Justice Adolphus Enebell by the sole administrator.
Since Ibas assumed office as the state number one citizen, preparation for the conduct of the election had been put on hold, meaning the election had been suspended indefinitely.
According to Seineri, whether the LG election is conducted under the administration of Ibas or Fubara, he will contest again.
The aspirant was the candidate for the Accord Party in the November 5, 2024, LG poll in Asari-Toru Ward One councillorship but lost to his APP opponent in an election considered to be not free and fair.
During the election, many observers, candidates, and party supporters, including voters, complained of alleged nonavailability of election result sheets at the various polls across the state.
Some also accused the state electoral umpire of rewriting election results at Government House to favour the preferred candidates of Fubara who largely contested on the platform of the APP.
Not satisfied with the process of the election, the Supreme Court nullified the election on the grounds that RSIEC did not obtain an updated voter register for the state from INEC before proceeding to conduct the poll.
The development led to an immediate announcement by Fubara, directing the then elected chairmen and councillors to relinquish power, which further paved the way for vacancies in the elective offices of the third tier of government.
