Tensions Rise As Protest Hits Rivers PDP Secretariat Over Voter Register Allocation

Tensions Rise As Protest Hits Rivers PDP Secretariat Over Voter Register Allocation....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Protesters stormed the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, just two days before the Local Government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024……CONTINUE READING 

Reports from Naija News indicate that the demonstrators gathered in large numbers at the party’s headquarters, prompting security forces to intervene to control the crowd and ease traffic congestion in the area. According to Channels Television, the protest stems from growing concerns over the delay in distributing the 2023 Voters’ Register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

It is noteworthy that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a ruling on September 30, 2024, prohibiting INEC from transferring the voters’ register to RSIEC due to ongoing legal disputes. Despite this ruling, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has maintained that the election will go ahead as planned. He expressed confidence that a prior Supreme Court decision requiring all states to have democratically elected local government officials supports his position.

In a statewide address on Wednesday, Fubara declared Thursday and Friday—October 3 and 4—as public holidays in preparation for the upcoming Local Government elections. He emphasized his administration’s commitment to upholding the Constitution of Nigeria and adhering to the principles of democracy.

Fubara stated that any failure to conduct the local government election would constitute a clear violation of the Supreme Court’s directive that no state government should administer local councils with unelected officials. He assured that his government has made the necessary provisions for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct the election, and the two-day public holiday is intended to allow residents to travel to their communities to participate fully in the election on Saturday.

Additionally, Fubara announced strict restrictions on vehicular movement for residents from midnight on Friday, October 4, until 5 PM on Election Day.