The Rivers State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday launched a protest against the forthcoming local government area elections slated for Saturday, October 5th.
It was learnt that the demonstration followed growing concerns over the delay in the release of the 2023 Voters’ Register by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.
It would be recalled that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a ruling delivered on September 30, 2024, barred INEC from releasing the voters’ register to RSIEC due to legal challenges.
Despite the court ruling, Governor Siminalayi Fubara maintained that the election would go on as planned.
Fubara expressed confidence that the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling, which mandated that all states in the federation must have democratically elected local government executives, supports his position.
Reacting to the development, PDP supporters, led by the party’s Chairman, Chukwuemeka Aaron, PDP supporters defied heavy rain on Thursday morning to march in protest. ...Read Full Article [Click Here>]
According to reports, the demonstration began at the PDP Secretariat on the Port Harcourt-Aba expressway and proceeded to the Police Headquarters on Moscow Road
It was learnt that the protesters, upon arriving at the police headquarters, submitted an official petition, urging the security agencies not to participate in the upcoming LGA election.
Speaking while handing over the petition, PDP Chairman Aaron, drenched by the rain, accused the state’s governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, of disregarding the rule of law.
He informed police officials that a court order currently exists, halting the election and directing police not to provide security for the poll.
Aaron urged the police to comply with the court’s directive and refrain from supporting the election.