Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State on Friday, October 4, asked the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara to obey the court order restraining the conduct of Local Government election in the State on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
This is even as the PDP warned of the consequences of disobeying the Federal High Court judgement outlawing the conduct of October 5, elections.
PDP warned that nobody should participate in or allow the conduct of any Local Government elections that deviated from the court’s judgment.
This was contained in a statement by the Rivers State Chairman of PDP, Chukwuemeka Aaron. He emphasized that participating in or conducting elections contrary to the court’s judgment would be unlawful.
Aaron, therefore, urged Rivers citizens to disregard any announcements calling for Local Government elections on October 5. He cited the Federal High Court judgment that halted the poll.
The PDP Chairman reiterated the party’s commitment to upholding the rule of law in the State. He added that the RSIEC and the State Government cannot choose which court orders to obey or ignore.
Aaron, therefore, called on Rivers State Governor, a PDP member, to comply fully with the court’s judgment.
He said: “The PDP, having reviewed all the cases relating to the Local Government elections, concludes as follows: we cannot support or promote lawlessness. Or impunity in any form whatsoever even though we are the ruling party in Rivers State.
“The proper court judgment must be obeyed. As we cannot choose which order of the court to obey and not to obey.
“We, therefore, call on the Rivers State Governor who incidentally is a member of our great party, the PDP, to obey and comply wholly and strictly with the judgment of the Federal High Court. In line with our character and ethics of our party, the PDP and suspend the planned October 5 Local Government elections in Rivers State.”
The Chairman also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for standing by the truth and complying with the court’s judgment.
Aaron said INEC had clarified that it did not release the Voters Register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
While commending the Nigerian Police for standing by the Federal High Court judgment, Aaron, however, cautioned that announcing election results despite the suspension would be considered an invitation to violence.
He added: “We also call on our members and indeed the law-abiding residents of Rivers State to defend the rule of law. By ensuring full compliance with the judgment from the Federal High Court.
“Nobody should participate in or allow the conduct of any Local Government elections in deviance from the judgement of the Federal High Court.
“We want to thank the INEC for standing on the part of the truth. By clearing the air on the non-release of Voters Register to RSIEC, and for complying with the Federal High Court judgment.
“We also commend the Nigerian Police for standing up to the Federal High judgment being the latest on the Rivers State Local Government elections.
“We want to caution that any attempt to announce any results whatsoever will be an invitation to violence. And will be properly revisited as no election will be held in Rivers State on the 5th of October as ordered by the court.
“We enjoin the general public to disregard any announcements calling for the October 5 Local Government elections. For the same is a call for crisis and which will not be in the interest of Rivers people,” the statement concluded.
source: The Nation
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