It would be recalled that the Nigerian police stated that it would pull out of providing security for the election, citing a court order.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has noted that it would go ahead with the local government election in the state as scheduled.
The RSIEC states this late Friday. “For the avoidance of doubt, we emphasize unequivocally that the 5th October 2024 Local Government Council Elections in Rivers State will hold as scheduled, and there is no going back,” RSIEC said.
This was communicated further in a statement by its Commissioner for Civil Education/Public Affairs, Tobin Tamunotonye.
Quoting the RSIEC LAW of 2018 and the judgment of Hon Justice I.P.C. Igwe of the High Court of Rivers State delivered on 4th September 2024, and the 1999 Constitution, he said the agency is empowered to conduct local government elections in the state.
According to him the commission has transported non-sensitive materials to polling units across the state, and the updated 2023 voter registers have been made available at all 6366 polling units.
It was noted by the commission that the election was “critical and in line with the order on RSIEC from the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” and emphasised that “voting centres will be open on time as scheduled as materials have been moved to the respective distribution points for all the polling unit and voters registers also released to election staff.”
It also noted that its Chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Retired) did not resign as rumoured.
“The above claim is mischievously false, baseless, and a fabricated lie from the pit of Hell calculated to mislead the public. For the avoidance of doubt the Chairman /Chief Electoral Commissioner is still in charge and has not resigned as maliciously circulated across the media space,” the commission said.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian police stated that it would pull out of providing security for the election, citing a court order.
This development has been met with critical reactions. For instance the Nigeria Bar Association President, Afam Osigwe, condemned the police for its stance, noting that providing security and safety of lives was a constitutional duty for the police and no court can upturn such.