Voters troop out in the early hours of Saturday to cast their votes in the Rivers State Local Government election, despite the resolve of the police to steer clear of the exercise rather than provide security for voters.
In some voting centres, the officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) arrived before 9 a.m. to accredit voters, some of whom had been waiting for the officials to supervise the exercise.
In most polling units in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area and Obio/Akpor, the exercise went on smoothly as voters lined up and accredited for the exercise, with some youths volunteering to “collectively provide security” for the election.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Rivers State chapter has said that there is no legal impediment to the council polls, hence it is fully in support and its members will participate.
In a communique, signed by all eight chairmen of the Branches of NBA in Rivers State, which was read to newsmen at the Conference Hall of the NBA Building in Port Harcourt on Friday night, the chairperson of Port Harcourt Branch of NBA, Cordelia U. Eke, noted that it cannot be stopped from performing their Constitutional duties.
Eke said that Local Government elections are part of the democratic process of Nigeria as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
She also said that the Constitution of Nigeria is the basis from which all government agencies and institutions derive their validity and are bound to obey same, noting that the Local Government election in Rivers State cannot be an exception because it is sanctioned by law,
She urged all residents of the state who are registered voters to go out on Election Day and exercise their franchise, just as she advised them to be peaceful and law-abiding during the election.
Eke said: “Given the forthcoming elections in Rivers State, on behalf of the eight Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in the State, we wish to state as follows:
“As we all know, there are several court judgments on the Rivers State Local Government Election issue which are already widely
“Sadly, most of these judgments are from courts of coordinate jurisdiction, and have been subject to diverse interpretations.”
“We also emphasize that any law or judgment that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, is null and void, to the extent of its inconsistency.
“Security agencies have the constitutional duty of maintaining law and order in the country, but if they choose to abdicate their constitutional role, then, it ridicules our democracy and our Constitution.”
Meanwhile, in the early hours of Saturday, suspected arsonists allegedly attacked the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, headed by the former caretaker committee chairman, CTC, Chief Tony Okocha.
They allegedly detonated explosives at the state secretariat of the main opposition political party.
There is a short video clip being circulated on social media platforms showing that dynamite was thrown at the entrance of the secretariat, damaging the main gate and the security post of the building.
However, sources claimed that the alleged attack was carried out by persons who dont want the election to hold.