The Rivers State local government election scheduled this morning (Saturday, October 5) has commenced despite the controversy over its legality or lack thereof and protest by some groups against it and the police’s refusal to provide security for the process citing a federal high court, Abuja order.
Daily Query reports that election materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive ones, arrived early at most of the registration and accreditation centers (RACs) visited by media teams in some local government areas.
The atmosphere in the state also reflected typical election day conditions, with roads notably quiet but even quieter and eerie without police presence.
Expectedly, voters were also seen at several polling booths orderly queuing up for accreditation and subsequent balloting.
Governor Simi Fubara, who spoke extensively yesterday (Friday, October 4), the eve of today’s election, reaffirmed his commitment to moving forward with the election, despite the Rivers State Police Command’s decision to withdraw from overseeing the process.
The Governor who accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, of attempting to undermine the election in favour of “an Abuja-based politician,” assured that the election would proceed as planned, encouraging residents to exercise their voting rights in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we emphasize unequivocally that the 5th October 2024 Local Government Council Elections in Rivers State will hold as scheduled, and there is no going back,” the RSIEC had said yesterday in a statement by its Commissioner for Civil Education/Public Affairs, Tobin Tamunotonye.
