Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) don dey insist say di local government election for di state go hold as scheduled, despite several court orders and controversies surrounding di exercise. According to RSIEC Commissioner for Civil Education/Public Affairs, Tobin Tamunotonye, di election for di 23 local government areas of Rivers State go ahead on October 5, 2024, as planned.
Di election, which involve 319 wards and 6,366 polling stations, dey crucial because of Supreme Court ruling that advocate for democratically elected local government system across Nigeria. Governor Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers State emphasize say he must comply with di Supreme Court’s ruling, even though his party, di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), no dey contest di election.
However, there be some confusion and tension as a result of multiple court judgments. A Federal High Court ruling bar INEC from releasing di voters register to RSIEC, while another judgment from di Rivers State High Court direct RSIEC to conduct di election. Di Rivers State Police Command announce say dem no go provide security for di election, citing di Federal High Court order.
Di Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Rivers State branches condemn di police decision, saying it undermine democracy and di Constitution. Dem urge security agencies to uphold their responsibilities and ensure peaceful and lawful election process.
Di PDP and some factions of di All Progressives Congress (APC) threaten to obstruct di election, citing di court judgments. But RSIEC insist say dem have di necessary materials and voter registers to conduct di election, and dem accuse INEC of misrepresenting di status of di voters register.
As di election approach, di state dey experience tension, with pro-governor groups and opposition parties engaging in various strategies to influence di outcome. Di NBA branches plan to participate as election observers to promote transparency and accountability.
