The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has officially rejected the results of Saturday's local government elections in Rivers State, claiming the process was marred by widespread irregularities and rigging.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar echoed the party's stance, calling on other opposition parties to do likewise.
The move puts the PDP in direct opposition to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has praised the results as a victory.
The APC won the chairmanship vote in 20 of the 23 local governments in the oil-rich state, giving it a grassroots edge in the cut-throat world of Rivers politics.
The election took place less than one month before Governor Siminalayi Fubara is due to resume in the Government House.
The governor, a member of the PDP, was suspended on March 18, after President Bola Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers State, citing "disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them."
As his suspension ends and he returns to office, he would have to deal with local government leadership that is dominated by the opposition APC.
