APC Gives Conditions to Participate in Rivers LG Poll

The All Progressives Congress (APC) refrained from attending a crucial stakeholders’ meeting on Monday, July 1. This event coincided with the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) declaring October 5 as the date for conducting local government elections across the state.

The decision comes against the backdrop of a protracted local government leadership crisis, triggered by a contentious tenure extension for council chairmen approved by the Martins Amaewhule-led lawmakers, and subsequently challenged by Governor Siminialayi Fubara.

Governor Fubara had instituted caretaker committees to administer local government affairs, while ousted chairmen contested their removal pending a Court of Appeal judgment. The escalating tension necessitated police intervention, securing all 23 local government secretariats.

RSIEC Chairman, Justice Enebeli (rtd), elucidated during the stakeholders’ meeting at the RSIEC headquarters in Port Harcourt that the election date had been collaboratively agreed upon by participating political parties and stakeholders. He unveiled the comprehensive timetable leading up to the electoral process.

“We are committed to conducting transparent and credible local government elections,” affirmed Enebeli, assuring stakeholders of a fair electoral exercise.

However, the APC, a key opposition party in Rivers State, articulated stringent conditions for their participation. State Caretaker Committee Chairman Tony Okocha elucidated that the party’s absence at the meeting stemmed from RSIEC’s failure to extend a formal invitation.

Okocha emphasized, “My party is too significant to overlook in official invitations. We seek assurance that all processes are to he executed with utmost transparency before committing to participate.”