Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said the local government election will happen as planned on October 5, 2024. He assured everyone there is no legal problem stopping the election.
The governor asked political parties, candidates, and voters to stay excited and get ready to choose new local leaders.
Governor Fubara shared this news in a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi. This happened after he checked out the Trans-Kalabari Road project on Monday.
He also visited the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and met with its chairman, retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli.
Governor Fubara said, “Our election will be on October 5, 2024. RSIEC told me they have an order to hold the election on that date and security agencies will support them.
“So, with that order, the election will go on. I’m not a lawyer, but I know something called ‘first-in-hand’, and since they have it, we will support the election fully. It will be one of the best, fair, and free elections we have ever had in this state.”
While talking to RSIEC staff, Governor Fubara mentioned he heard about some people wanting to mess up the commission’s work.
He warned these people to think again about what they are planning to do.
Fubara said, “What matters to me is the interest of Rivers State. It belongs to everyone, not just one person.
“I don’t care who picked you for the job, just do the right thing because if we mess up now, it will cause problems for a long time.
“Nobody has the right to disrupt this. This is the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, and it belongs to Rivers State. I am the Governor, so if there’s a problem, let me know. I will come and handle it myself.”
On Monday, a Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from giving the 2023 voters’ list to RSIEC.
This decision came after a High Court in Port Harcourt told RSIEC to use the 2023 voters’ list for the local elections.
Justice I. Igwe of the Port Harcourt High Court gave this order on September 4, 2024, after the Action People’s Party (APP) filed a case against RSIEC, the Rivers State Government, and the Governor.
But, in a different decision, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja stopped INEC from handing over the voters’ list for the October 5, 2024, local elections.
The court also stopped the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Department of State Services (DSS) from giving security for the elections.
Last Thursday, RSIEC said they already got the voters’ list from INEC in 2023, ready for the election.