The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara has confirmed that the forthcoming local government election will proceed as scheduled on October 5, 2024, despite a court order from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Naija News reports that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from releasing the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the conduct of the election.
The court also barred the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Service from providing security.
He also stopped RSIEC from accepting any voter register from INEC or using it for the October 5 poll.
Justice Lifu faulted RSIEC for fixing October 5 as the date for the election when all relevant laws guiding it had not been complied with.
However, Fubara has said that there is no encumbrance known to the law that would stop the conduct of the election.
He urged political parties and candidates contesting for various positions in the election and the electorate to be enthusiastic as they prepared to vote for their preferred candidates who would become the new political leaders at the council level.
Giving the assurance shortly after an inspection tour around some sections of the 12.5km ₦225.1bn Trans-Kalabari Road project on Monday, the governor insisted that the election would be held on October 5.
Speaking via a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, the governor said, “I’m aware that RSIEC told me they already had an order mandating them to conduct the election on the 5th of October, 2024, and the security agencies to support them.
“So, I think with that order, the election will be held. I might not be a lawyer but I know there is something they call first-in-hand, and since they have the first-in-hand, we will give them all the necessary support for that election to be conducted and it will be one of the best elections ever conducted free and fair in this state.”
Fubara warned those he called some misguided fellows and bad elements in the RSIEC planning to disrupt the election to retrace their steps.
“What is important to me is the interest of Rivers State, that it has to be alive. It doesn’t belong to anybody. I don’t care who nominated you but do the right thing, that is important to me because if we make a mistake today, it will live with us forever.
“Nobody has a right to come here. This is the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission. It belongs to Rivers State and I am the governor. So, if there is anything, let me know, I will come here myself,” he said.