Despite the elections proceeding, Fubara was not seen in his hometown of Opobo, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area. Reports confirmed that the suspended governor was not in the state at the time of the polls.

Key political allies of the governor, including the Chief of Staff to the Government House, Edison Ehie, Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo and the recently sacked 23 local government chairmen, also shunned the election. Members of the Simplified Movement, a socio-political group aligned with Fubara, were similarly absent from voting centres across the state.

Electoral materials reportedly arrived at Fubara’s polling unit in Ward 5, Opobo, around 11 a.m., with early speculation suggesting he might participate, especially following a recent reconciliation with his former political mentor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. However, by the close of voting at approximately 3:30 p.m., Fubara had yet to appear.

Reliable sources told journalists that the governor had travelled to London prior to the election and did not return in time to cast his vote.

Fubara, who is expected to be reinstated on September 18, was suspended in March after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State amid a deepening political rift between the governor and Wike. The fallout saw Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly suspended for six months. Tinubu also appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas as sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during the period.

Fubara and Wike have since struck a political truce, part of which involved the decision to conduct fresh local government elections, replacing an earlier process that had favoured Fubara’s loyalists.

Source: Punch