Rivers State Council Polls to Hold as Scheduled on October 5, Confirms RSIEC

Despite rumors suggesting that court litigations might disrupt the upcoming October 5 Local Government Council elections, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has reaffirmed that the elections will proceed as planned. Tobins Tamunotonye, RSIEC Commissioner for Public Affairs and Civic Education, dismissed these concerns, stating that the commission has not received any court orders halting the polls.

According to Tamunotonye, 17 out of 19 political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), have successfully submitted their candidates after conducting primaries supervised by the commission. “The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, under the leadership of Retired Justice Enebeli, has not received any legal challenges stopping the election. In fact, we are 90% ready, with candidates already screened,” Tamunotonye confirmed.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not yet presented any candidates for the council elections, which aligns with the party’s earlier announcement that it would not participate. Tamunotonye assured the public that RSIEC is committed to conducting a transparent and fair election, urging citizens to come out and vote.

Amid ongoing political drama in Rivers State, the APC has faced internal conflict regarding participation in the election. Tony Okocha, the former chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, stated that the party would not contest. However, the party’s current chairman, Emeka Beke, conducted primaries, and APC candidates are now set to compete in the polls.

Additionally, some PDP members loyal to Governor Simi Fubara, frustrated by the party’s non-participation, have shifted allegiance to the rapidly growing Action People’s Party (APP), signaling a potential shake-up in the political landscape ahead of the election.