Rivers PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah Dismisses Reports Of Conduct Of Local Government Election On Saturday, May 23 In Rivers

Following claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State that Local Government Election was held in the State on Saturday, May 23, 2015, the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) calls on Rivers people to disregard the report as there was no such election in the State but a charade and futile exercise.

The State Chairman of the PDP, Bro. Felix Obuah, considers claims by the APC and the Amaechi-manipulated Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission of conducting the so-called Local Government election in Rivers State on Saturday as a farce, describing their actions as fraudulent, illegal and in fragrant disobedience of an order by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt that status quo be maintained.

The statement which was signed by the Chairman’s Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, recalled that the duration announced for the so-called election contravenes relevant sections of the Electoral Act and laws establishing the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, which stipulate duration for preparation, conduct of primaries and submission of names of candidates, screening and campaigns by the various political parties participating in the elections, and that before an election will hold, an Election Tribunal must be inaugurated.

The PDP adds that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had openly denied releasing certified Voters Register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), in compliance with a court order. The law states that upon request, INEC will release to RSIEC Certified Voters Register, to conduct Local Government election.

The PDP says, if any Local Government election was held, what then was used, since the INEC did not release voters Register for the so called election? Against this background, the PDP declares that the Local Government Election purportedly held last Saturday is a deliberate contravention of the law, as INEC did not release the duly certified Voters Register to RSIEC, the body that allegedly conducted the illegal election on Saturday.

It reiterates that in the eyes of the law, the PDP and Rivers people, there was no Local Government Election in Rivers State on Saturday, May 23, 2015.

“We therefore, urge members of the PDP, Rivers people and Nigerians at large, to ignore any announcement of results of the purported Local Government Elections and the alleged issuance of Certificates of Return to any person”, the PDP chairman, Felix Obuah declared.

Signed:
Jerry Needam
Special Adviser on Media to
State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah
Monday, May 25, 2015