The Action Peoples Party, APP, has disowned a factional group in Rivers State claiming to be the party’s authentic leadership in the state.
The party’s National Chairman, Chief Uche Nnadi, in a statement in Abuja, on Friday, referred to the factional group as “mere impostors” who have never been party officials.
He called on the IGP to arrest and prosecute them, adding that Chief Sunny Nwokekoro is the recognized State Chairman, who replaced Hon Kenneth Atata, the former chairman.
The political party further supported the decision of RSIEC to proceed with the conduct of the election.
“Our party’s National Working Committee endorses Rivers State Independent Electoral Commision’s decision to proceed with the election in obedience to Justice I.P.C. Igwe’s judgment, which mandates the Commission to conduct the election on Saturday, October 5, 2024. Our party obtained that judgment, and we have a right to enjoy its benefits,” the statement read.
The party reiterated the call on the Inspector General of Police to “be mindful and not allow the police institution to be further ridiculed by taking partisan positions”.
The statement noted that RSIEC is under the command of a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to conduct the said election, and the Police cannot interfere with that order.
The party, therefore, urged the IGP and other security agencies to provide adequate security and ensure the maintenance of peace, law, and order during and after the election, as ordered by the honourable Court. The IGP should know that he is also bound by this court order.
The party also called on the people of Rivers State to come out on Saturday to vote for the candidates of their choice.
Recall that Justice Igwe of a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt on Friday September 4, issued an order on the RSIEC to proceed with the local government council elections scheduled for October 5.
The judge while delivering judgement in a suit marked:PHC/2696/CS/2024, filed by APP, against RSIEC, Rivers State Government, and Governor of Rivers State as 1st to 3rd Respondents respectively, held that according to the Supreme Court judgement delivered July 11, 2024, in suit No: SC/CV/343/2024, vacant council positions should be filled within three months by conducting elections.
And all states without democratically-elected local government councils in place should conduct elections into their respective local government councils within three (3) months from the date of the aforesaid judgment of the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, on September 30, Justice Peter Lifu, of the Federal High Court in Abuja for the second time (the first order was in a ruling on July 19,) issued an order barring the Independent National Electoral Commission, from releasing voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, for the conduct of the October 5, local government polls in the state.
Justice Lifu in a judgment, faulted RSIEC for fixing October 5 as the date for the conduct of the poll when all relevant laws guiding the election had not been complied with.
He held that the Rivers State electoral body violated provisions of the local government election conduct law by not publishing the mandatory 90 days notice before fixing the date.
Justice Lifu, declared that the update and revision of voters’ register ought to have been concluded before an election date can be legally and validly fixed in law.
