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Rivers LG Election: Fubara Declares Thursday, Friday Public Holidays

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Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4 as public holidays to enable residents travel to their various communities to participate in the October 5 local government elections.

The governor also announced restrictions of vehicular movement from midnight on Friday, October 4 to 5pm on the election day.

Fubara made the declarations during a statewide broadcast at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Fubara said the local government elections became necessary following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the chairmen and councilors of the 23 local government councils on June 17, 2023.

He said he lawfully instituted caretaker committees to temporarily administer the 23 local government areas pending when the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) would conduct the elections.

He said the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on July 11, 2024 effectively outlawed the administration of local government councils with unelected officers and made several orders including the immediate stoppage of statutory allocations to local government councils without democratically elected officials.

He said: “Following Mr President’s intervention, the period for compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment was graciously extended by three months, which will expire on the 31st of October 2024.

“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 election on Saturday, October 5, 2024.”

Fubara highlighted the legal impetus of RSIEC to conduct the local government elections saying it was further strengthened by the judgment of the Rivers State High Court delivered on September 4, 2024.

He said the judgment 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.

He said: “As of today, RSIEC has expressed and demonstrated concrete and verifiable capacity and readiness to conduct the 2024 Rivers State Local Government Elections on the 5th of October 2024.

“As of today, 17 out of 18 registered political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, have expressly and actively demonstrated their willingness to participate by filling candidates with RSIEC for the election.

“As of today, over 10 States in Nigeria have conducted local government council elections using the 2023 INEC Voters’ Register since the Supreme Court’s judgment and Rivers State cannot be an exception.

“As the Governor of Rivers State, I swore to uphold the Constitution of Nigeria and abide by the rule of law and the principles of democracy.

“Any failure on our part to conduct the Local Government election would be a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court’s mandatory order that no State Government must administer the Local Government Councils in Nigeria with unelected officers with the attendant consequence of the State and the people being denied the statutory allocations due to the 23 local government areas of the State.

“The Rivers State Government would also be acting in contempt of the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State in Suit No: PHC/2696/CS/2024, which restrains the Governor, the State Government, and RSIEC from scuttling the conduct of the local government elections scheduled for October 5th, 2024.”

Fubara insisted that on the strengths of the provisions of the Constitution as amended, the Supreme Court Judgment and the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State, the government remained irrevocably committed to conducting the election.

“Any failure on our part to conduct the local government election would be a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court’s mandatory order that no State Government must administer the local government councils in Nigeria with unelected officers with the attendant consequence of the State and the people being denied the statutory allocations due to the 23 local government areas of the State.

“The Rivers State Government would also be acting in contempt of the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State in Suit No: PHC/2696/CS/2024, which restrains the governor, the State Government, and RSIEC from scuttling the conduct of the local government elections scheduled for October 5th, 2024.″

Fubara insisted that on the strengths of the provisions of the Constitution as amended, the Supreme Court Judgment and the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State, the State government remains irrevocably committed to conducting the election.

The governor said: “Against these backgrounds, I wish to assure every resident that the election for the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers State shall be held on Saturday 5th October 2024 throughout the State.

“The State Government has provided the necessary funds and logistics for RSIEC, which has assured me that it is fully prepared and ready to conduct and deliver a fair, free, and credible local government council election as scheduled.

“Therefore, I wish to advice 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.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to enable all registered voters to travel to their communities to participate and peacefully exercise their civic responsibility at their polling units.

“To this end, I hereby declare Thursday and Friday, the 3rd and 4th of October 2024 as public holidays for citizens to travel to their communities and participate in the election.

“Furthermore, I hereby place a total restriction on vehicular and human movements into, within, and out of the State, and the local government areas, from midnight of Friday 4th October 2024 to 5.00 pm on Saturday 5th October 2024, except for persons and vehicles valid identifications who are on election and other essential duties.”

Fubara said the police and other security agencies had clear directives from the State’s Security Council to arrest and prosecute any person or group attempting to violate the restriction on human and vehicular movements on election day.

The governor said appreciated the State’s Security High Command for their cooperation and commitment to effectively secure the state and ensure peaceful trouble-free local government elections.

“As citizens, we all owe our State the commitment to support the RSIEC to succeed in delivering on its constitutional duty to conduct a free, fair, and credible local government council election to usher in a new set of democratically elected leaders to administer the 23 local government councils,” the governor said.

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Fake Information: Sanwo-Olu Denies Dragging EFCC to Court

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Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has denied claims suggesting that he filed a lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged plans to arrest and prosecute him after his tenure in office.

A statement by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Pedro Lawal, clarified that Governor Sanwo-Olu has neither filed a lawsuit nor engaged any legal counsel to address these purported accusations.

Pedro emphasized the absurdity of such claims, highlighting that the governor, who currently enjoys constitutional immunity, has nearly three years remaining in office and thus would not seek legal recourse in this manner.

“The EFCC is not investigating the Governor, nor has it issued any threats of arrest against him or any member of his staff,” Pedro asserted.

He further stated that an inquiry into the origins of these claims is underway, expressing concern over how such misinformation surfaced without their knowledge.

Pedro reiterated that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to exemplary service and prudent management of public resources, asserting that the governor is focused on enhancing the living conditions of Lagosians rather than being preoccupied with unfounded allegations.

“Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu does not have anything to fear when he eventually leaves office at the end of his tenure in May 2027,” he stated.

The Attorney General urged media organizations to exercise caution in their reporting, warning against the dissemination of misleading information that could skew public perception.

“We encourage journalists to verify their sources and ensure that their reports are rooted in fact,” Pedro concluded.

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Abuja Court Stops CBN from Releasing Money to Rivers Govt

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further releasing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a ruling on Wednesday, declared the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Siminalayi Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly as an affront to the constitutional provision.

She held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is a breach of the Constitution and an aberration that must not be allowed to continue.

Consequently, the court restrained the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated revenue account.

The judgment followed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24, brought before the court by the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The plaintiffs had approached the court, praying it to withhold all federal monthly allocations meant for Rivers State.

Noting that Governor Fubara had continued to make unauthorised withdrawals from the consolidated revenues funds of Rivers state, in breach of section 120 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, they contended that the Governor had yet to comply with the court order that directed him to represent the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

They had argued that the high court had in a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, recognised Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and invalidated the 2024 budget proposal that was presented before the four-member faction of the Assembly, led by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo.

They further contended that the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court decision that was in their favour.

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Hon Ikwechegh’s in Our Custody for Assault, Threat to Life, Abuja Police Confirm

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The FCT Police Command says it has arrested the lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Alexander Ikwechegh for allegedly assaulting a Bolt driver identified as Mr. Stephen Abuwatseya and making derogatory comment on the office of the Inspector General of Police.

A statement on Monday by the Spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh said the Command received a report at the Maitama Divisional Headquarters regarding an incident involving Mr. Abuwatseya and Hon. Alexander Ikwechegh.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that Mr. Abuwatseya was delivering a package to Hon. Ikwegh when a dispute arose concerning the method of delivery. During this altercation, Mr. Abuwatseya was reportedly physically assaulted.

“The FCT Police Command expresses grave concern over Hon. Ikwechegh’s dismissive attitude toward the office of the Inspector General of Police following the incident.

“After allegedly slapping the victim, he reportedly remarked with contempt, “You can go ahead and call the Inspector General of Police,” demonstrating a troubling disregard for the authority of law enforcement.

“Currently, the suspect is at the Maitama Police Station undergoing questioning,” the FCT police image maker said.

She added that the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, has mandated a thorough investigation into the matter while assuring of the Command’s commitment to conducting an impartial investigation and ensuring justice in all cases.

Police said appropriate legal action will be taken upon completion of the investigation.

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