Two Labour Party leaders in Rivers State, Hilda Dokubo and Prince Favour Reuben, have differing opinions on the credibility of the local government election in the state. Dokubo, the state chairman, stated that the election was peaceful and orderly, while Reuben, the South-South Zonal Chairman, claimed it was hijacked and manipulated by individuals using government funds.

Dokubo, who cast her vote in the Asari Toru Local Government Area, expressed that the conduct of the election did not warrant any protests. “Participating in the election was the right thing to do to move forward,” she told Classic FM. She emphasized that what matters now is the establishment of an elected local government. “It doesn’t really matter now the outcome. We have to face the reality and live with it,” the Labour Party chairman said.

On the other hand, Reuben criticized the election, asserting that it was flawed from the start due to the unavailability of result sheets at the polling units. He noted that the lack of police presence allowed for vote buying and thuggery to thrive. He further stated that anyone from the opposition claiming the election was credible should be investigated. “No sound opposition will tell you that this election was credible or fair unless the person is in collaboration with the destroyer of the electoral processes in Rivers State,” Reuben said.

He accused the state electoral commission of deceiving opposition candidates into spending substantial amounts on forms and campaigns, knowing that a free election would not take place. “You allowed us to spend our hard-earned money to campaign, to buy forms to raise money for RISIEC and at the end of the day you didn’t allow us to do election,” he lamented.