As the Local Government Area (LGA) election scheduled for August 30 draws near, a prominent lecturer, Dr. Goodluck Nwobike, has issued a public statement condemning the planned poll as a “constitutional travesty.”
In a statement released from Port Harcourt, Dr. Nwobike described the upcoming elections, to be conducted under a Sole Administrator, as a “serious violation of constitutional order and a democratic disgrace.” He argued that “illegitimacy cannot yield legitimacy,” cautioning that an election held during a political emergency under an unelected official would lack public trust.
Dr. Nwobike connected the current situation to the political crises in the state in late 2023, which he said allowed “anti-democratic elements to seize control.” He further emphasized the need for a transparent and trusted process, quoting Prof. Wole Soyinka’s assertion that elections are about “the integrity of the process and the trust of the people.”
His viewpoint has been supported by other legal and political figures. Dr. Rotimi Olawale, a Political Analyst, referred to the planned election as a “constitutional travesty,” while former lawmaker Hon. Ezeh Onyekachi called the action a “blatant overreach.” The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also reportedly expressed concerns over the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s (RSIEC) non-compliance with electoral law.
Dr. Nwobike is now calling for an immediate halt to the upcoming election. He stressed that the only way to avoid a democratic crisis is by fully restoring constitutional governance and reinstating Governor Sim Fubara’s authority.
