Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has insisted that the state’s local government election scheduled for Saturday, October 5th, 2024, will proceed, despite protests from loyalists of his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The governor warned against any attempts by groups or individuals to disrupt the electoral process, emphasising that he would not tolerate any actions aimed at creating confusion or instability in the state.
The Peoples Democratic Party members loyal to Wike and a faction of the All Progressives Congress led by Chief Tony Okocha (also a known Wike’s loyalist), had earlier announced their decision to withdraw from the election, citing irregularities and a lack of due process by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
However, the APC faction loyal to former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, led by Emeka Beke, maintained its participation, handing over party flags to candidates in 22 of the 23 local government areas in the state.
The Okocha-led APC faction had taken legal action against the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) at the Federal High Court in Abuja, resulting in a temporary injunction that prevents the Independent National Electoral Commission from releasing the voter register for the election.
The court also restrained security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, from providing security for the exercise.
Despite the legal hurdles, the RSIEC expressed its readiness to conduct the election on Saturday, claiming to have access to the voter register, contrary to INEC’s position.
On Thursday, prominent PDP politicians and thousands of their supporters took to the streets to protest against the planned conduct of the election by RSIEC.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House on Thursday, Governor Fubara criticized the protesters, acknowledging that he was also at a disadvantage because his party (the PDP) was not participating in the election.
“You know, in this election, I am the greatest loser because my party is not participating. But due to the Supreme Court ruling that there must be elected officials to manage the affairs of local governments, as governor, I have to comply,” Fubara stated.
He explained that following the Supreme Court ruling, a meeting was held with President Bola Tinubu, where they agreed to comply with the ruling within a 90-day timeframe. As a result, Fubara insisted that the local government election must proceed, even though the PDP was not involved.
The governor expressed frustration over the resistance to the election in Rivers State, noting that other states across the country had conducted local government elections using the 2023 voter register without such controversies.
“Ten states of the federation have conducted elections with the 2023 voter register. I don’t know why things in Rivers State are always different. Is it that when it comes to the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is interpreted differently for Rivers State?” Fubara questioned.
The Governor further alleged that some of the protesters were outsiders brought into the city from boundary towns between Imo State, Ogba, Egbema, Ndoni Local Government Area, and Akwa Ibom State, to foment trouble.
“No matter the guise or level of ‘aluta continua’ posture that the detractors adopt, the local government election will proceed as planned,” Fubara strongly emphasized.
Fubara concluded by urging registered voters and political leaders to be present at their polling units on Saturday the 5th of October 2024, to participate in the election and ensure the smooth conduct of the process.
