Rivers crisis: Fubara his own problem – Okocha

By Jude Opara

The embattled former Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Tony Okocha, has said Governor Sim Fubara is creating problems for himself.
Okocha explained that Fubara would be de-marketed ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state.
Wike and Fubara have been engaged in a protracted fight that has defied interventions from President Bola Tinubu and other political stakeholders.
The Minister, however, expressed readiness for a peaceful resolution if Fubara adhered to the rule of law.
But addressing journalists in Abuja, Okocha said: “Wike made it possible for Fubara to emerge as governor. Fubara was never a politician.
“Fubara is creating problems for himself. It is our business to demarket him and his party for us to win in 2027.
“I can say to you that for the next 10 years, I do not see any politician destroying the political structure Wike has in Rivers State.
“I’m not God, but I’m talking about what is possible within human possibility. Wike’s structure cannot be destroyed. It is not possible, not so soon. Let’s leave it there.”
This follows submissions made by political parties and the closure of the portal.
Peoples Daily reports that the portal opened on 20th August 2024 and automatically shut down at midnight on Monday, 30th September 2024, as indicated in item 9 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, which was released almost a year ago in September 2023.
In Ondo State, there are 3,933 polling units and 222 collation centres, consisting of 203 ward centres, 18 local government centres, and the State collation centre in Akure.
A political party fielding candidates in the election is expected to nominate 4,155 agents.
Out of the 18 parties participating in the election, the Commission expected a cumulative total of 74,790 agents.
However, INEC revealed that only 24,148 agents were uploaded to the portal, consisting of 22,689 polling agents, 1,249 ward agents, 196 local government agents, and 14 state collation agents.
Altogether, the 18 political parties nominated only 32.3% of the expected number of agents.
“Three political parties have no agents at any level of polling or collation,” INEC added in a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner & Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
“A detailed breakdown of the submissions has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information,” the statement added.