Atiku, Obi decry Rivers local government election, say Tinubu has murdered Nigeria democracy

By Kingston Magare 1.9.2025
Following the conduct of the Rivers State local government election last weekend, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi said the exercise mocks democracy a legacy of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The All-Progressives Congress won 20 out of the 23 local governments in the election conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission. The People’s Democratic Party won the remaining three.
Speaking on the development on Monday Atiku stated on his X social media: “The local government election conducted by the occupation government in Rivers State is an awful absurdity and a travesty to the very notion of elective democracy.
“By the shameful and shambolic manner in which the occupation government went ahead to conduct local government elections in Rivers State, it is clear that the ruling APC party is not leaving anyone in doubt that it is prepared to throw caution to the wind in order to achieve an inordinate political advantage.”
He warned that the development signaled a troubling path under the Tinubu administration.
“It therefore becomes necessary to call the attention of well-meaning Nigerians, the international community, and all friends and partners of Nigeria to the dangerous curve that the President Bola Tinubu regime is taking our dear country.”
On his part Mr. Obi argued that the conduct was an assault on the constitution and democracy in Nigeria.
“It represents a double tragedy for our democracy when a sole administrator himself illegally appointed, dares to conduct an election that should empower the people. This is not democracy; it is the outright desecration of its very foundation.
“Illegality can never give birth to legitimacy. Any structure erected on a foundation of lawlessness is a danger to both the state and the people. We cannot pretend to practice democracy while silencing the will of the people especially at the grassroots, where democracy matters most,” he added.
Meanwhile speaking Monday in Abuja Federal Capital Territory minister, Nyesom Wike said the elections reflected the wish of the people of Rivers State.
“The local government determines who wins what in the state. Every election has its own perception. Are people happy with what is happening in the PDP? Did PDP even contest in those local governments where APC won?” he asked.
Wike stressed that as a PDP member, he delivered his local government for the party.
“I influenced and campaigned for my people to vote for PDP, and they did. Now you are angry that APC won elsewhere. But I have said it before—my influence is in my own local government,” he added.