Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, was reportedly absent from the Rivers South-East Senatorial By-Election held on Saturday, despite being a constituent of the senatorial district.
Governor Fubara, who hails from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, was not publicly seen at his polling unit or any voting centre during the exercise, and there was no immediate evidence showing that he participated in the election.
His reported absence has generated discussion among political observers, particularly in light of the political tensions that previously existed between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Both camps have, however, maintained that they have reconciled in the interest of Rivers State.
Before the election, the governor had encouraged residents to participate in the democratic process. However, as of the time of reporting, no official footage or statement had emerged confirming that he cast his vote.
Several notable figures from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) participated in the poll, but the governor’s participation could not be independently verified.
There was also no official statement from the governor’s office addressing his reported absence from the election.
The by-election was conducted to fill the vacant Rivers South-East Senatorial seat following the death of Senator Barry Mpigi.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) later declared Senator-elect Olaka Nwogu of the PDP the winner of the election after securing the highest number of valid votes cast. Nwogu is widely regarded as a political ally of FCT Minister Wike.
