Rivers LG polls: Fubara declares Oct 3, 4 public holidays

Orders restriction of vehicular movement from midnight Friday to 5pm Saturday 

Ahead of the local council elections fixed for Saturday, October 5, 2024, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has declared Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4, 2024, as public holidays.

This, according to the governor, is for residents of the state to travel to their various communities to participate in the polls.

Fubara also announced strict restrictions on vehicular movement from midnight on Friday, October 4 to 5.00 pm on Saturday.

The governor made the declarations, yesterday, in a state-wide broadcast to the people of Rivers at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

He said, “My dear people of Rivers State, following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the chairmen and councillors of the 23 local councils on June 17, 2023, I lawfully instituted caretaker committees to temporarily administer the 23 local councils pending the conduct of local council elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) in the state.

“I assure every resident that the election for the 23 local councils in Rivers shall be held on Saturday, October 5, 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 council election as scheduled.”

The governor requested 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 added, “To this end, I declare Thursday and Friday, October 3 and 4, 2024, as public holidays for citizens to travel to their communities and participate in the election.

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

According to him, the police and other security agencies have clear directives from the state’s Security Council to arrest and prosecute any person or group who attempts to violate the restriction on human and vehicular movements on election day.