The commission’s chairman, Michael Odey, assured voters of adequate security arrangements, with police support, to protect lives and property during the polls.
The Rivers State government under President Bola Tinubu’s sole administrator, Ibok Ete-Ibas, has insisted on holding the local government elections today, Saturday, despite condemnations from various quarters on the legitimacy of the exercise by a non-democratic regime.
The elections, which will take place across 6,866 polling units in 319 wards, come six months and two days after the Supreme Court nullified the local government election conducted on October 5, 2024, by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The RSIEC under Ibas has faced fire even as it has now urged “eligible voters to come out in their numbers and peacefully exercise their civic duty of voting in the elections.”
The commission’s chairman, Michael Odey, assured voters of adequate security arrangements, with police support, to protect lives and property during the polls.
“With police support, adequate security has been put in place to protect lives and property,” Odey said in a pre-election broadcast.
In a show of force, security agencies staged a convoy of patrol vehicles through major streets in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas, displaying operational readiness to maintain peace and order before, during, and after the polls.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, had earlier assured residents of adequate security arrangements for the elections.
However, some observers have faulted the decision to conduct the election through a state electoral commission led by an appointee of the sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retired).
A legal practitioner, Chetam Nwala, described the elections as not being in the best interest of the people of Rivers and urged President Bola Tinubu to restore democracy in the state.
“The election in Rivers State is not in the best interest of Rivers people, and that is why people may not participate in the election,” he said on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday.
The elections are taking place under emergency rule, with Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas serving as the sole administrator of the state. The emergency rule was imposed after a power play between Governor Sim Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike resulted in a political crisis.
Despite the crisis, Fubara and Wike have since reconciled their differences after President Tinubu’s intervention.
The outcome of the elections could have significant implications for the 2027 governorship election, with major political actors closely watching the polls.
The Supreme Court’s judgment nullifying the October 5, 2024, LG polls declared the election invalid for grossly violating the Electoral Act.
As the people of Rivers State head to the polls, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation and uncertainty.
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