● Chijioke Ogbodo, and Tonye Okurumo in Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt – Despite attempts to disrupt the local government elections scheduled for today, Saturday, October 5, 2024, the Rivers State Local Government polls are underway with minimal interruptions. Reports confirm that voting is proceeding smoothly across several polling locations. Allegations have surfaced about efforts by supporters of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a prominent member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to hinder the electoral process, but the elections have proceeded largely without incident.
Early on Saturday, some PDP members, including National Assembly representatives from Rivers State, reportedly gathered at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) headquarters. Their alleged intent was to disrupt the distribution of electoral materials, but they were unable to stop the process. A resident of Port Harcourt, Hills Sylvester, who spoke exclusively to GMTNewsng, confirmed that while there was a protest by Wike’s supporters in front of RSIEC, voting continued smoothly at various polling locations across the state.
In a press release issued by the RSIEC, the commission clarified that the Chairman and Chief Electoral Commissioner, Hon. Justice Adophus Enebeli DSSRS (Rtd.), remains in charge of the process, dispelling rumors of his resignation. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Chairman has not resigned, and the election will proceed as scheduled,” the statement read. The commission also emphasized that non-sensitive materials had already been distributed, and the election would continue in accordance with the law.
Voters casting their ballots
Meanwhile, Enugu-based legal practitioner, Ifeanyi Uwakwe, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, expressed concerns over the legal and political controversies surrounding the election. He noted the conflicting court orders from Federal High Court judges as a dangerous precedent. “Public officers commit a lot of atrocities and get away with them, otherwise two judges of the Federal High Court could not have delivered such conflicting orders. If this were a country where things work, these would not have happened,” Uwakwe remarked. He further called on President Bola Tinubu, Wike, and the two judges involved to be held accountable should the situation escalate into violence. “These orders have no basis in law,” he added.
The situation has been further complicated by the decision of the Nigerian Police to withdraw security for the election. In a strongly worded statement, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, condemned the police’s refusal to provide security, calling it “a brazen abdication of their constitutional duty.” Osigwe warned that the absence of security could lead to lawlessness and undermine democracy. He said, “The responsibility of the police to ensure peace and security is constitutional and cannot be restrained by any court.” He added, “The refusal to provide security is not only unconstitutional but also illegal, immoral, and a dangerous signal that invites lawlessness.”
Osigwe further criticized the conflicting court judgments regarding the election, calling it “judicial rascality.” He expressed concern that these orders have created confusion, but emphasized that they should not prevent the elections from proceeding. “Any failure to perform this obligation is unacceptable. The security of elections and indeed every other activity is not a matter for negotiation,” he stated.
PDP supporters in front of RSIEC office
Despite the controversy, residents across various local government areas have reported that the election is ongoing without interruption. Temple Briggs, another Port Harcourt resident, voiced his support for the electoral process, stating, “The government, through the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, should go ahead and conduct the election as it is legally right to do so.”
RSIEC’s press statement also reiterated the legality of today’s elections, citing a Supreme Court order and a judgment from the High Court of Rivers State, delivered on September 4, 2024, which empowered the commission to proceed with the election. “This election is critical, and 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,” the RSIEC statement declared.
Voters on queue
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, in a public address earlier this week, vowed that the election would go on as planned, despite the challenges posed by conflicting court orders and security concerns. He assured Rivers people that his government was committed to upholding the law and ensuring that the will of the people prevailed. “The Local Government elections will be free, fair, and peaceful. We are prepared to provide all necessary support to ensure that democracy takes its course,” Governor Fubara declared.
The African People’s Party (APP) has emerged as the dominant political party participating in today’s elections, with many of their candidates fielded across the 23 Local Government Areas in the state. Reports from various local government areas suggest that APP candidates have gained significant momentum as voters turn out to cast their ballots. GMTNewsng
