Rivers: PDP urges residents to participate in LG polls amid police concerns

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the Police against undermining democracy while encouraging the people of Rivers State to actively participate in the upcoming Local Government election scheduled for Saturday.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara reaffirmed on Thursday that the election will proceed as planned, despite protests from supporters of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The governor cautioned against any attempts to disrupt the electoral process, stressing his intolerance for actions that could lead to confusion or instability in the state.

Tensions have risen as PDP members loyal to Wike and a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Chief Tony Okocha, have withdrawn from the election, citing irregularities and a lack of due process by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

Fubara has accused the Police of colluding with Wike to undermine the local government elections. In response, the PDP, represented by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, asserted that the people of Rivers State are ready for the election.

“RSIEC has confirmed its readiness and possession of the necessary materials to conduct the election, asserting that no court under the Electoral Act 2022 can halt the process,” Ologunagba stated.

He further encouraged the citizens to assert their sovereignty and constitutional rights by voting en masse in the Local Government Area election. The PDP’s statement read in part: “The PDP insists that the right to civil control of democratic activities in Rivers State as a federating unit belongs to the generality of the people of the State, and such right, including participation in Local Government Area elections, cannot be abridged or appropriated by any person, group, or organisation under any guise whatsoever.”

Ologunagba said that “the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had also announced its readiness, preparedness, and possession of necessary operational materials to conduct the election in line with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court, and NO COURT under the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) has the power to stop elections.”

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The PDP also noted Section 84(15) of the Electoral Act, stating that “nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general elections under the Act pending the determination of a suit.”

The party urged Nigerians and the international community to hold the APC and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun accountable for any breakdown of law and order in Rivers State at this time.

“The PDP strongly condemns the attempt by the APC-controlled Police to abridge, subvert, and frustrate the smooth conduct of the Rivers State Local Government Area election against the Will of the people,” the statement said. It further denounced the reported invasion of RSIEC facilities by police operatives as a “direct affront to our democracy and the Rule of Law.

“The Police and the APC should note that the people of Rivers State are peace-loving and law-abiding but will never allow anybody, by whatever means, to stifle, abridge, appropriate, or subvert their Will, especially in choosing who governs them at the Local Government level,” the PDP said.

The Inspector General of Police was reminded of his constitutional duty to provide a secure environment for the elections. “Duty calls on him to act professionally in the overall interest of our hard-earned democracy and the stability of our nation, Nigeria,” the party asserted.

Ologunagba praised the courage and determination of the people of Rivers State in defending their right to participate in the electoral process, reiterating the PDP’s support for the government’s efforts to ensure a peaceful election for the management of the 23 Local Government Areas.