The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and his loyalists were noticeably absent on Saturday during the conduct of chairmanship and councillorship elections in the state.

Naijaonpoint reports that Fubara, who hails from Opobo Local Government Area, was not seen at his ward even though voting took place on a limited scale.

Top aides and loyalists of the suspended governor, including the Chief of Staff to the Government House, Edison Ehie, the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, and the recently sacked 23 local government chairmen, also stayed away from the exercise.

Members of the Simplified Movement, the political structure backing Fubara, were also absent from polling centres across the state.

When electoral materials arrived at Fubara’s polling unit in Ward 5, Opobo/Nkoro LGA, around 11 am, many expected the embattled governor to turn up, especially after his recent reconciliation with his political godfather and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

However, as voting ended at about 3:30 pm, Fubara failed to show up to cast his ballot.

As of the close of polls, it was learnt that the suspended governor, who is due for reinstatement on September 18, had not returned to his hometown of Opobo.

A source told The Sunday Punch that Fubara had travelled to London ahead of the polls and did not return in time for the election.