The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, has set October 5, 2024, for the conduct of State’s Local Government Councils’ elections.
This was contained in a statement by the Chairman of RSIEC, retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli. He made the announcement during a meeting with political party stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The meeting, which was held at the Commission’s office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, attracted the presence of 18 political parties in State.
Addressing the meeting, Justice Enebeli promised that under his leadership, the Commission would ensure free, fair, credible and violence-free Local Government Council elections.
The Justice also emphasized that RSIEC would strictly adhere to the rules governing the conduct of elections.
He explained that the meeting was aimed at educating stakeholders and the entire voting populace about the forthcoming election.
Enebeli also appealed to security agencies and traditional leaders to uphold democracy in State. He urged them to help sustain the peace in their respective areas.
He specifically asked politicians to encourage their followers and supporters to maintain peace. This, he said would ensure violence-free Local Government elections.
The Rivers State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Sensei Solsuema Osaro, also spoke at the meeting.
He presented a document containing the names of authentic political party Chairmen in the State.
In his remark, he assured of stakeholders support for RSIEC in ensuring fairness in the conduct of the election.
Recall that the tenure of the former LGA Council Chairmen in Rivers State ended on June 17, 2024.
The outgone LG Chairmen, who are alleged to loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, are insisting on tenure elongation.
They are insisting that their tenure was extended by an amended Local Government Law Number 5 of 2018. The law was passed by the faction of the State House of Assembly headed by Martins Amaewhule.
However, on May 21, 2024, the extension was nullified by a Rivers State High Court. The court had declared the Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024 as inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.
Therefore, on the expiration of the tenure of the LG Chairmen, Governor Siminalayi Fubara appointed Caretaker Committee Chairmen.
However, the former Local Government Chairmen vowed not to vacate their offices. A situation that heightened political tension in the State.
To avert break down of law and order in the volatile State, the LG Council secretariats were barricaded by the Nigerian Police on June 19.
And according to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun the secretariats will remain barricaded pending the outcome of the ongoing court case.
source: Daily Post
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