Leading opposition figure and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the August 30 local government elections in Rivers State, describing it as ‘awful absurdity and travesty’ to plural democracy, conducted by what he called the ‘Occupation Government’ even as he called on the opposition parties in the State to reject the outcome.
Atiku, who took to his social media handles on Sunday night to react to the electoral exercise in Rivers State, conducted by the administration of the State’s Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, claimed that the development was an indication that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre was not leaving anyone in doubt that it was prepared to throw caution to the wind in order to achieve an inordinate political advantage.
Atiku wrote: “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 said that it has, therefore, becomes necessary to call the attention of well-meaning Nigerians, international community and all friends and partners of Nigeria to the dangerous curve that the President Bola Tinubu administration was taking Nigeria.
Atiku, therefore, expressed solidarity with the people of Rivers State, whom he described as ‘victims of political brigandry to a power cabal’, which was bent on overturning their democratic rights at all cost.
“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.”
“In the same breath, I wish to share my unflinching solidarity with the good people of Rivers State, who are currently victims of political brigandry to a power cabal which is bent on overturning their democratic rights at all cost,” Atiku added.
