Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has declared Thursday, October 3, and Friday, October 4, as public holidays ahead of the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5.
In a statewide broadcast, the governor called on the people of Rivers State to turn out in large numbers to participate in the election, which will determine grassroots leadership.
He also announced a total restriction on both vehicular and human movement into, within, and out of the state, as well as its local government areas, from midnight on Friday, October 4, until 5 pm on Saturday, October 5. Only individuals and vehicles with valid identification for election or essential services will be exempt from the restriction.
Fubara warned that security agencies had been placed on high alert to arrest and prosecute anyone violating the movement ban. He urged residents to comply with the directives to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
The governor assured the public that the local government elections for all 23 councils in the state would proceed smoothly on October 5 without any disruptions. He highlighted that the state government had provided sufficient funding and logistical support to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, SIEC, to conduct a free, fair, and credible election.
Governor Fubara emphasized that the election was in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government administration and the Rivers State High Court’s order, which mandated the state government to hold the local government elections as scheduled.
“On the strength of these positive developments, I directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to take definite steps to conduct local government elections for the 23 local government councils of Rivers State.
“Acting on this directive, the RSIEC has since fixed and concluded all arrangements to conduct the local government council elections on Saturday 5th October 2024.
“The legal impetus of RSIEC to conduct the local government elections was further strengthened by the judgment of the Rivers State High Court in Suit No: PHC/2696/CS/2024 delivered on the 4th of September 2024, which positively directed the Governor of Rivers State, the Government of Rivers State and the RSIEC to conduct the scheduled local government elections on the 5th of October 2025 using the 2023 Independent National Electoral Commission’s Voters Register already in the custody of RSIEC.
“Today, RSIEC has expressed and demonstrated concrete and verifiable capacity and readiness to conduct the 2024 Rivers State local government elections on October 5, 2024,” the governor said.
He noted that 17 out of the 18 registered political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, APC, have formally and actively committed to participating in the election by submitting candidates to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.
“Therefore, I wish to advise and request all registered voters to go to their polling units to exercise their franchise by voting for the candidates of their choice as security personnel would be there to maintain order and ensure peaceful polls as a matter of constitutional duty,” he stated.
Governor Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the Constitution of Nigeria, emphasizing that, as governor, he would continue to respect the rule of law and democratic principles.
He stressed that failing to conduct the local government elections would constitute a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s mandatory order, which prohibits state governments from administering local government councils with unelected officials. Such a violation could result in the state and its people being denied the statutory allocations designated for the 23 local government areas.
He praised the state’s security leadership for their collaboration and dedication to ensuring a secure and peaceful election process.
The governor further emphasized that every citizen has a duty to support the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to conduct a free, fair, and credible local government election. This election, he noted, would pave the way for the installation of a new set of democratically elected leaders to govern the 23 local government councils.
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