During a recent interview with Arise News from 16:46, Tonye Ibraye, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate for Rivers State in 2023, expressed serious concerns about the escalating political unrest surrounding the local government elections in the state. Ibraye highlighted the inconsistencies and contradictions in the actions of various political groups, criticizing their approach to the electoral process.
He pointed out that the same political groups that once protested the lack of elected local government leadership, criticizing the appointment of unelected caretaker chairmen, are now opposing the very elections meant to address this issue. This inconsistency, according to Ibraye, reveals a deeper problem within the state’s political environment, where groups shift their stance based on convenience rather than principle.
Ibraye emphasized that this contradictory behavior undermines the credibility of these political actors. He observed that while these groups previously demanded democratic elections to replace caretaker leadership in local governments, they are now resisting the process they once advocated for. This flip-flop, he argued, reflects a lack of genuine commitment to democratic principles.
In his remarks, Ibraye also warned of a more sinister force influencing the political dynamics in Rivers State. He suggested that the state’s political system has been overtaken by extreme elements, leading to heightened tension and violence in the political arena. The use of intimidation and force, according to him, is a growing concern.
Ibraye went further to describe the situation as being characterized by cult-like followership, political terrorism, and extremism. This troubling trend, he argued, is destabilizing the political landscape and poses a significant threat to the integrity of the state’s electoral process.
In his remarks, “The same people that were complaining before, that the local governments were led by unelected caretaker chairmen and they were protesting, are the same people that are coming today to protest against the conduct of elections.”