October 03, (THEWILL) – The Rivers State House of Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo has declared that the State local government elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5, must be conducted in adherence to the rule of law and subsisting judgments that enabled the exercise.
In a motion moved and adopted during plenary at its regular sitting at the Hallowed Chamber of the House of Assembly, Auditorium of the Administrative Block, Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, the House aligned itself with the position of the Executive Arm of Government and Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, that the 1999 Constitution guides Nigeria, and as stipulated in Section 13, all government bodies, officials and private individuals must adhere to and implement the prevailing principles enshrined therein.
According to Oko-Jumbo, “On the 11th day of July 2024, the Supreme Court in suit No. SC/CV/343/2024 delivered a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Councils. In that judgment, the apex court mandated that at all times, there must be a democratically elected local government council in place, mandating all 36 states to comply.”
He also referred to the judgment delivered by Justice I. P. C. Igwe on September 4, 2024, in Suit No. PHC/2696/CS/2024, which mandated: “The Rivers State Government and the Executive Governor of Rivers State, whose constitutional duties as enshrined in Section 7:1 of the 1999 Constitution and in line with the Supreme Court judgment of the 11th day of July 2024, to ensure and make adequate provisions for the conduct of the election into the local government councils of Rivers State.
”The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to utilise in their custody the national register of voters for the year 2023 general election as compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
”The Nigerian Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Army and any other security agencies to provide adequate security and ensure the maintenance of peace, law and order during and after the elections on the 5th day of October 2024.”
Oko-Jumbo, however, noted that the Rivers State Government, which is deeply rooted in the adherence to the rule of law as enshrined in the Constitution, has kick-started all mandatory processes towards the conduct of the Local Government elections as slated for October 5, 2024.
“Given the above, and as upholders of the rule of law, the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly aligns itself in totality with the rule of law and judgment of both the apex court and the most recent order given by Justice I.P.C. Igwe of the High Court of Rivers State on the 4th day of September 2024.
“The Rivers State House of Assembly further orders that the Rivers State Government and the Executive Governor must conduct elections into the local Government Councils on the 5th day of October 2024, in compliance with the rule of law and judgment of the courts,” Oko-Jumbo said as he called on all residents in the State, and indeed, the general public to come out en masse on October 5 to perform their civic duties and vote for the candidates of their choice.
Meanwhile, members of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, along with a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state chaired by Tony Okocha, have joined forces to protest against the October 5 council elections.
Okocha and the PDP’s State Chairman, Chukwuemeka Aaron, have both publicly stated that the election process is tainted by illegality and that their parties will not participate.
The protesters, who as early as 7:45 am, converged on the PDP Secretariat at Leventist Junction along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, marched down to the Department of State Services (DSS) office at Old GRA where they submitted a protest petition then proceeded to the Government House.
Some stakeholders, including former LGA chairmen, members of the House of Representatives, and former chief of staff, Government House, loyal to the FCT Minister, were in attendance.
Speaking at the DSS office, a PDP stakeholder in Rivers State, Aron Chukwuemeka, said the major reason for the protest was to say no to the October 5 local government elections.
In a related development, the Chief Emeka Beke-led faction of the Rivers APC has indicated its support for the conduct of the chairmanship and councillorship elections.
It conveyed its position through a letter to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters, Abuja,
Signed by Beke and Rivers APC Secretary, Sam Sam Etetegwung, the letter titled “Re: Position of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) on the forthcoming Local Government Election in Rivers State Vis-a-vis the Judgement in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/987/2024,” reads in part: “We, however, hereby notify you that Chief Tony Okocha, who filed that suit purportedly as ‘Chairman, Caretaker Committee’ of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State Chapter, is an impostor and totally unknown to the Rivers Chapter of the All Progressives Congress.
“He is neither the Chairman nor is he a leader in any capacity whatsoever. He (Chief Tony Okocha) does not also have the authority of the leadership of the party in Rivers State as constituted under Chief Emeka Beke, to file or maintain the said suit on its behalf.
“We are equally aware that on the 4th day of September, 2024, the High Court of Rivers State per Hon Justice I. P. C. Igwe in Suit No. PHC/2696/CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has given a judgement compelling the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice.
“That judgement, being first-in-time to the latter judgement in FHC /ABJ/CS/987/2024, takes precedence. As we all know, when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails.
“Under the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, all issues relating to the participation in the local government elections are within the authority of the State Executive Committee, and so, it is the Executive Committee as led by himself (Chief Emeka Beke) that determines whether and how the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress is to participate in the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State.
“What matters is that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had already ordered the Government of Rivers State to conduct Local Government Elections in Rivers State within three months of judgement, hence the Federal High Court cannot lawfully overrule the Supreme Court by stopping the holding of the said election.
“It is on the above premise that we write to notify you and your commission (INEC) that the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress totally supports the holding of the local government elections in Rivers State on the 5th of October, 2024. The Party is participating in the elections, and has indeed, submitted the names of its candidates for the various positions.”
The statement further reiterated that the judgement in Suit No. PHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 does not represent the interest of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and accordingly distanced itself from the suit and judgment.
It further urged the public and institutions to discountenance the claims and antics of Tony Okocha and his cohorts, and fully participate in the October 5 local government elections in the State.
