…Restricts motion from midnight on Friday
By Daniel Abia
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared Thursday, October 3, and Friday, October 4, 2024, as public holidays to permit residents journey to their communities and absolutely take part within the Native Authorities elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5.
As well as, the Governor introduced a restriction on vehicular motion from midnight on Friday, October 4, till 5 p.m. on Election Day, October 5.
Governor Fubara made the announcement in a statewide broadcast from Authorities Home, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
He defined, “Following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the Chairmen and Councilors of the 23 Native Authorities Councils on June 17, 2023, I lawfully instituted Caretaker Committees to briefly administer the councils pending the conduct of elections by the Rivers State Unbiased Electoral Fee (RSIEC).”
The Governor additional famous that the Supreme Courtroom of Nigeria, in its July 11, 2024 judgment in SC/CV/343/2024, outlawed the administration of native authorities councils by unelected officers and ordered the cessation of statutory allocations to councils with out elected officers.
“Following Mr. President’s intervention, the compliance interval with the Supreme Courtroom’s judgment was prolonged by three months, ending on October 31, 2024,” Fubara defined. “Based mostly on this, I directed RSIEC to take steps to conduct native authorities elections in Rivers State, which can now be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024.”
He highlighted that RSIEC is absolutely ready for the election, with 17 out of 18 registered political events, together with the All Progressives Congress (APC), taking part by fielding candidates.
“As Governor of Rivers State, I’m dedicated to upholding the Structure of Nigeria, the rule of regulation, and the rules of democracy,” Fubara emphasised, warning that failure to conduct the election can be in violation of the Supreme Courtroom’s order and would consequence within the State being denied statutory allocations.
Fubara additionally cited a September 4, 2024, Rivers State Excessive Courtroom judgment in Go well with No: PHC/2696/CS/2024, which ordered the Governor, the State Authorities, and RSIEC to conduct the election utilizing the 2023 INEC Voters Register.
Reiterating his dedication to the election, the Governor assured residents, “The Rivers State Authorities is irrevocably dedicated to conducting the native authorities elections on October 5, 2024.”
He additionally urged all registered voters to take part, assuring that safety personnel can be deployed to keep up order at polling items.
To facilitate participation, Governor Fubara declared October 3 and 4 as public holidays, permitting residents time to journey to their communities. He additionally introduced the restriction of vehicular and human motion from midnight on October 4 till 5 p.m. on October 5, apart from these on election responsibility or important companies.
The Governor issued a warning: “The police and different safety companies have clear directives to arrest and prosecute anybody who makes an attempt to violate the motion restrictions.”
Governor Fubara concluded by expressing appreciation to the State’s safety companies for his or her efforts in guaranteeing a peaceable election and known as on residents to help RSIEC in delivering a free, truthful, and credible election that may usher in a brand new set of democratically elected leaders for the 23 Native Authorities Councils.