Rivers LG Polls: Come Out, Exercise Your Franchise -PDP Tells Residents

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has called on the electorates in Rivers State to come out en masse and participate in October 5 (today) local government elections in the state.

Recall that police authorities in the state had said they would not participate in the October 5 election, citing a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Tension heightened in the oil-rich state early Friday after police operatives stormed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, with Governor Siminalayi Fubara insisting that the election will be conducted as planned.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, while reacting in a statement on Friday, asked the police authorities to provide security cover for the exercise.

He urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to act in a professional manner for the overall good of the nation.

“The IGP should note that he is duty bound under the Constitution to provide the enabling and secure environment for the smooth conduct of the Rivers State Local Government Area election irrespective of where he stands as an individual. Duty calls on him to act professionally in the overall interest of our hard-earned democracy and the stability of our nation, Nigeria.

The right to civil control of democratic activities in Rivers State as a federating unit belongs to the generality of the people of the State and such right, including participation in Local Government Area election cannot be abridged or appropriated by any person, group or organization under any guise whatsoever,” he said.

Ologunagba maintained that Rivers people are ready for election, stressing that the State Independent Electoral Commission had also announced its readiness, preparedness and possession of necessary operational materials to conduct the election in line with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court and NO COURT under the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) has the power to stop elections.

The party also urged Nigerians and the International Community to hold the APC and the Inspector General of Police responsible should there be any breakdown of Law and Order in Rivers State at this time.

Click here to watch our video of the week