The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has affirmed that preparations for the October 5 Local Government Council elections are progressing smoothly, despite rumours of ongoing court cases that could potentially disrupt the process.
The RSIEC Commissioner for Public Affairs and Civic Education, Tobins Tamunotonye, addressed the speculation during an interview with Channels Television, clarifying that the commission has not received any court orders halting the election.
“The River State Independent Electoral Commission under the Chairmanship of Retired Justice Enebeli is yet to receive any court order nor judgement stopping the election. In short, as we speak we are 90 percent ready for elections with candidates already screened,” Tamunotonye stated.
He further revealed that 17 of the 19 political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), have successfully submitted candidates through primaries supervised by the commission.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the only party that has not yet presented candidates for the upcoming elections.
In response to concerns about the commission’s capacity to conduct a credible election, Tamunotonye reassured the public of RSIEC’s commitment to delivering a transparent and fair process. He encouraged voters to participate actively in the election.
Political tensions in Rivers State have cast a shadow over the upcoming elections. Former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC, Tony Okocha, previously stated that his party would not participate in the elections.
However, the APC’s current chairman, Emeka Beke, moved forward with primaries, producing candidates for the council polls.
The absence of the PDP from the elections has also prompted some members of the party loyal to Governor Simi Fubara to align with the Action People’s Party (APP), a newly emerging party that is quickly gaining traction in the state.
With the election date approaching, RSIEC remains focused on ensuring a smooth and credible process, dismissing any claims that litigation could halt the polls.