Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticized the conduct of the recent local government elections in Rivers State, labeling the exercise as a complete mockery of democratic principles.

The elections, which were held on Saturday and organized by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) secure victory in 20 out of the 23 local government areas. The PDP, the party in power in the state, managed to win only three LGAs.

Reacting to the outcome via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Atiku lashed out at the administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of manipulating the process for political gain.

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 said. The former vice president called for heightened awareness from both local citizens and the international community regarding the trajectory of the Tinubu administration.

He stated, “I call on Nigerians, the international community, and partners of our country to take note of the dangerous curve that the President Bola Tinubu regime is taking our dear country.”
Atiku also urged political parties opposed to the APC in the state to reject the results of the polls, asserting that the authority behind the elections lacked any constitutional legitimacy.

"I will also call on all opposition parties in Rivers State to reject the local government election on the premise that the occupation government that conducted the exercise is extraneous to our laws, with absolutely no legitimacy to undertake such a crucial and sensitive assignment,” he said.

He concluded by expressing solidarity with residents of Rivers State, whom he described as victims of a political takeover by a select group intent on suppressing their democratic will.
“The people of Rivers State are currently victims of political brigandry to a power cabal which is bent on overturning their democratic rights at all cost,” Atiku added.