…Says no stopping of polls, urge Rivers people to participate
…Issues arrest of violators of restriction order
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has declared Thursday and Friday, October 3 and 4, as public holidays in preparation for Saturday, October 5, 2024 local government elections in the State.
Gov. Fubara in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday urged Rivers people to come out en-masse and participate in the election that will determine the next leaders at the grassroots.
The governor announced a total restriction on vehicular and human movements into, within, and out of the State, and the Local Government Areas, from midnight of Friday, October 4, 2024 to 5.00 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2024, except for persons and vehicles with valid identifications for election and other essential duties.
He noted that the police and other security agencies have been put on alert to arrest and prosecute any person or group who attempts to violate the restriction order and enjoined Rivers people to comply with the process in order to have a peaceful and credible local government polls.
The governor assured residents of the State that the election for the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers State shall be held on Saturday October 5, 2024 throughout the State without any hindrances, stressing that the State Government has provided the necessary funds and logistics for the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct and deliver a fair, free, and credible Local Government Council election as scheduled.
Gov. Fubara said the conduct of the election is in compliance with the ruling of the Supreme Court on local government administration and the order of Rivers State High Court mandating the State Government to conduct the local government elections.
“On the strength of these positive developments, I directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to take definite steps to conduct local government elections for the 23 local Government Councils of Rivers State.”
“Acting on this directive the RSIEC has since fixed and concluded all arrangements to conduct the Local Government Council election on Saturday 5th October 2024.”
“The legal impetus of RSIEC to conduct the local government elections was further strengthened by the judgment of the Rivers State High Court in Suit No: PHC/2696/CS/2024 delivered on the 4th of September 2024, which positively directed the Governor of Rivers State, the Government of Rivers State and the RSIEC to conduct the scheduled local government elections on the 5th of October 2025 using the 2023 Independent National Electoral Commission’s Voters Register already in the custody of RSIEC.”
“Today, RSIEC has expressed and demonstrated concrete and verifiable capacity and readiness to conduct the 2024 Rivers State
Local Government Elections on the 5th of October 2024.
He stated that 17 out of 18 registered political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, have expressly and actively demonstrated their willingness to participate by filling candidates with RSIEC for the election.
“Therefore, I wish to advise and request all registered voters to go to their polling units to exercise their franchise by voting for the candidates of their choice as security personnel would be there to maintain order and ensure peaceful polls as a matter of constitutional duty.”
Gov. Fubara reiterated that as the Governor of Rivers State, he will continue to uphold the Constitution of Nigeria and abide by the rule of law and the principles of democracy as failure to conduct the Local Government election would be a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court’s mandatory order that no State Government must administer the Local Government
Councils in Nigeria with unelected officers with the attendant consequence of the State and the people being denied the statutory allocations due to the 23 local government areas of the State.
He commended the State’s Security High Command for their cooperation and commitment to effectively secure the State and ensure peaceful trouble-free local government elections.
The governor emphasised that as citizens, everyone owes the State the commitment to support RSIEC to succeed in delivering on its constitutional duty to conduct a free, fair, and credible Local Government Council election to usher in a new set of democratically elected leaders to administer the 23 Local Government Councils.
