From PDP Stronghold to APC Fortress: How Eleme’s Politics Has Transformed

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By Nwafor Oji Awala 

For years, Eleme Local Government Area in Rivers State was firmly associated with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The area, home to key oil and gas industries, often witnessed tense contests during elections, sometimes accompanied by political violence. But the atmosphere in 2025 tells a different story: Eleme has become a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and political activity in the state has taken on a more peaceful character.

At the official flag-off of the APC campaign in Nchia this week, the party formally presented flags to its councillorship candidates and rallied support for its chairmanship candidate, Chief Hon. Obarilomate Ollor, who is seeking re-election in the August 30 local government elections. The event drew party leaders, community stakeholders, and traditional rulers, underscoring Eleme’s shifting political loyalties.

A New Climate of Peace

One of the most notable changes in Rivers politics is the absence of the violent clashes that once mar








red electioneering. Analysts and community leaders attribute this largely to the influence of Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who remains a dominant figure in the state’s politics despite shifting party alignments.

Wike’s control has brought stability and tempered the kind of rivalry that often sparked unrest in past elections. Campaigns across Eleme now focus on developmental records and promises rather than intimidation, a trend party leaders highlighted during the APC flag-off.

Campaign Messages

Hon. Frederick Oyor, Director-General of the APC Campaign in Eleme, opened the rally by thanking both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Wike for their contributions to the community. He listed ten reasons why Ollor should be returned for a second term, including continuity of projects, youth empowerment initiatives, improved security, and the construction of a new council secretariat.

“The administration of Chief Ollor strengthened security, dismantled crime-prone shanties, and created opportunities for youths,” Oyor said, urging residents to turn out en masse on election day.

APC Eleme Chairman, Dr. Phylle Te-Nwaji, emphasized party unity and described the gathering as a family affair. He thanked supporters for their resilience, noting that “Obarilomate Ollor is a name that gives us hope, joy, and development.”

For his part, Chief Ollor assured the crowd that his second term would consolidate his achievements in security, empowerment, education, and infrastructure. He pledged to tackle Eleme’s electricity challenges and warned criminal elements to vacate the area. “We must sustain peace to achieve development,” he said.

Community Endorsement

The campaign train made a symbolic stop at the palace of His Majesty, King Philip Osaro Obele JP, Oneh-Eh Eta Eleme, where blessings were sought from the traditional council before proceeding to the rally ground. Prominent Eleme leaders, including Hon. Marcus Nle Ejii, Chief Ejor N. Ejor, Hon. Aforji Igwe, and Hon. Fred Igwe, also delivered goodwill messages in support of the APC candidates.

The flag-off featured colorful ward processions, with each councillorship candidate receiving the party’s flag in a public display of solidarity.










Eleme’s Changing Political Landscape

The event highlighted how far Eleme has shifted politically in recent years. Once synonymous with the PDP, the area now provides a platform for the APC to showcase development-driven politics. With Ollor seeking re-election and community leaders openly backing the party, Eleme reflects a broader trend in Rivers State where political contests are now less about violent rivalry and more about continuity, performance, and stability.

As the August 30 elections approach, the outcome in Eleme will be closely watched as both a test of the APC’s consolidation in the local government and as an example of how Rivers politics is adapting to new realities.

- Nwafor Oji Awala 

((,c) Prime Heritage Magazine 

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