The Rivers Situation Separate Electoral Fee has maintained that there’s no courtroom ruling fighting the scheduled native executive elections from being hung on October 5, 2024.
The Chairman of the Fee, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), made this statement throughout a coaching consultation for grasp running shoes of RSIEC personnel in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
This comes within the wake of a observation via the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers, Eminent Tony Okocha, who, throughout a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, claimed the elections had been below litigation and, due to this fact, may no longer advance.
Okocha gave the impression to be referencing the faction of the APC led via reinstated surrounding birthday party Chairman, Eminent Emeka Beke, who’s aligned with former Delivery Minister, Rotimi Amaechi.
The Beke-led faction had signalled their purpose to take part within the elections, a journey Okocha disregarded, saying that the primary opposition birthday party had already taken its stance in opposition to the polls.
Then again, Justice Enebeli used to be unequivocal, mentioning that the October 5 time remainder fastened.
He disclosed that 18 out of the nineteen registered political events could be collaborating within the elections, with over 300 applicants vying for diverse positions.
“There is no court judgment restraining us from conducting the elections,” Enebeli declared, additional mentioning a up to date Best Court docket ruling that mandates the behavior of democratically elected native executive councils throughout all states.
He defined, “On July 11 this year, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the highest court in the land, delivered a clear and comprehensive judgment that local government elections should be democratically conducted in all states yet to do so. The consequences for failing to adhere are obvious. Therefore, both the people of Rivers and the Federal Government are eagerly anticipating this election.”
Enebeli added that the elections could be held in complete compliance with the Rivers Situation Electoral Fee Regulation, mentioning that the Separate Nationwide Electoral Fee is needed to handover the electorate’ check in to RSIEC as according to felony provisions.
“Section 60, subsection 2 of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Law of 2018 provides that no court proceedings shall restrain the conduct of primaries or elections. INEC is obliged to register voters for RSIEC elections,” he defined.
The RSIEC Chairman reiterated, “There is no legal impediment, and the Supreme Court has confirmed that we should conduct these elections. By the grace of God, October 5, 2024, remains sacrosanct.”