—– PDP reacts, residents condemns election date
The Rivers state Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC has said that the state Local Government elections will hold May 23
The Chairman of RSIEC, Augustine Ahiozu made this known at a media briefing held with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
RSIEC chairman further called on interested political parties to nominate candidates for the elections.
He said the Local council polls will be held in all the Local Government areas except Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government where the tenure of the council Chairman, Austin Ahiamdau will elapse in 2016.
The Rivers state Independent Electoral Commission however said the time-table for the elections has been published.
Reacting to the election date announcement People Democratic Party in Rivers state in a statement signed by Jerry Needam, the media aide to the Chairman of the council, said the planned Local Government Council polls is not in line with the constitution that stipulates 90 days notice before elections are held.
Rivers resident who spoke with this medium opposed the planned by Rivers state Independent Electoral Commission to conduct Local government elections when the country just concluded elections.
According to the residents also said the election is not in line with the constitution as this may likely generate crisis in the state, they called on RSIEC to shift the election date.
Some quarried why RSIEC did not conduct local government election for two years when the state governor dissolved council chairmen in the state.
A source who spoke with this medium said the governor want to use the opportunity to place it candidates from APC in the council seats since the party lost the governorship election hoping that the tribunal might rule on their favour and nullify the governorship election.
