Politicians from Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State have applauded the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for a smooth conduct of the just concluded local government polls on Saturday 30 August, 2025 in the state.
They made the commendations in separate interviews with Thescale.com.ng while monitoring the elections in some units and wards in the LGA.
The APC chairmanship candidate, Engr Owolobi Michael Ofori expressed satisfaction with the exercise in the area, pointing out that the turn out of voters was quite impressive and the elections peaceful.
He told newsmen shortly after casting his vote at his Unit 27, Omelema community in ward one that, “I’m very impressed. You can see that the voters turn out is quite impressive and it shows the enormous support they’re showing for their candidate, the candidate of the APC.
“The process is seamless, I mean from the clearance to accreditation, I’m very impressed. You can see the process is going on very well. There was no tension. We did a wonderful campaign. There was no incidence of violence recorded anywhere in the LGA during this election. We shall sustain the peace.”
Answering questions on how to develop the LGA, he said, “I grew up here, I know my people. We know our challenges and even before today, we know Abua very well, we’ve started solving those issues. So, if I’m elected, we’ll continue with what we’ve started.”
Also speaking to Journalists at same unit and ward, Dr Israel Alfred Dickson, ABOLGA APC chairman and one of the Directors of the party’s chairmanship campaign organisation also spoke in the same vein. “You can see that the entire community is gathered; infact, people turned out en mass and they’re voting according to their wishes and according to their will.
“Nobody is coarsing anybody. They’re voting very freely and happily. I’m impressed because RSIEC has done a very good job. From the time they set out this process, training of the Ad Hoc staff and then today, you can see that everybody turned out en mass. Perfect work, perfect work.”
Eventhough the chairmanship candidate of the party under the Emeka Beke faction, Mr Angel Andrew Arugu, also from Ward one vowed to head to the Tribunal if he’s not declared the winner because the Emeka Beke led faction is the authentic and legally recognised APC in the state, he nevertheless agreed with the assessment that RSIEC performed creditably.
Infact, he even scored them one hundred percent. Hear him, “The process is okay. Just that a little irregularities on the voting system . . . I score RSIEC 100% because they’ve done all they could to make sure that the election comes free and fair. . .”
The councillorship candidate for Ward Three, Hon Uloghoman Friday Ikulughan also thumbed up for RSIEC for the smooth conduct of the local polls and commended voters for their impressive turn out for the exercise, observing that it shows the amount of support his constituents support his candidature.
He told Thescale.com.ng in an exclusive chat shortly after voting in his unit six, Ward Three, Omokwa community that he would never take the overwhelming votes and support of Ward Three for granted.
The Royal father of Omelema community, hometown of the APC candidate, Engr Owolobi Michael Ofori, Chief Imeraani Mopho was also not left out in the encomiums for RSIEC, he also commended Sole Administrator Ibok Ette Ibas and RSIEC chairman, Michael Odey for a free, fair and credible exercise.
The traditional Ruler who was ecstatic that his community was producing the council chairman, promised that he would always advise the chairman to liaise with the state government to dualise the Ahoada – Degema road which is presently in a deplorable condition.
