Rivers PDP rejects plans for council polls

Rivers PDP rejects plans for council polls

Tuesday, April 21, 2015 8:53 pm


Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State chapter has rejected the planned conduct of the Local Government Council elections in 22 LGAs in the State.

The election was announced yesterday by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.

The PDP described it as illegal, provocative and wasteful.

The PDP said it unequivocally rejected and dissociated itself from such arrangement by the Amaechi-controlled Rivers State Electoral body (RSIEC) under Prof.Augustine Ahiazu, stating that accepting to organize such an exercise at the 11th hour of the termination of the APC-led government in the State does not present the Chairman and his Commission as responsible, honourable and unbiased.

PDP argued that in as much as the Party believes that officials off RSIEC are abreast with the provisions of the Electoral Law and guidelines, particularly as it relates to the conduct of the LG polls,it drew their attention to the section that stipulates 90 days notice to the political parties before the conduct of any election.

PDP Chairman Felix Obuah in a statement signed by Jerry Needam,his Special Adviser on Media, said the anxiety, suspicion and distrust which the rush to conduct LG polls is generating since the plan was announced by RSIEC yesterday shows that the state is not ready for another election now.

The party said what the Governor ought to be doing now is to constitute a Transition Committee and to ask for submission of handover notes from his Aides and Executive Council members as being done at the centre by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Rivers state Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC yesterday,Monday 20 April announced May 23 as the date to hold Local Government Council polls in the state.

Chairman of RSIEC, Augustine Ahiozu announced this to Journalists in a media briefing in Port Harcourt.

Ahiozu called on interested political parties to nominate candidates for the elections.

He said the Local council polls will be held in all the Local Government areas except Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government where the tenure of the council Chairman, Austin Ahiamdu will end later in the year.

The RSIEC said the time-table for the elections has been published.


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