Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to ensure the prompt conduct of local government poll by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in the state, Mr. Tony Okocha, made the call, during an Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) meeting with the RSIEC, held in Port Harcourt.
The meeting was held to ascertain the level of preparedness of RSIEC in conducting the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State, among other issues.
Speaking to journalists immediately after the meeting, Okocha commended the Chairman of IPAC and that of RSIEC for the peaceful deliberation in the meeting.
He called on RSIEC to ensure that the local government elections are conducted promptly. He noted the pronouncements of the Supreme Court against setting up caretaker committees in local government areas at the end of a tenure.
Okocha also observed that the tenure of the serving chairmen and councillors in the state will expire soon, saying that “it has become necessary for RSIEC to notify the political parties about the timetable for the elections within the stipulated time”.
The APC chairman confirmed the preparedness of the party to fully participate in the elections and aims to win in all 23 LGAs and the 319 wards across the State.
He expressed confidence in the election empire in the state, stressing that “we trust in their experience and capability to deliver credible, free, fair and unbiased elections in Rivers State”.
However, the APC chairman called on Governor Fubara and security agencies to ensure an enabling and peaceful environment in the state in order to ensure seamless local government elections.
