News
Rivers LG Polls: Police Deploy 20,000
The Rivers police command, has deployed 20,000 policemen for the local government elections in the state scheduled for tomorrow.
Mr Suleiman Abba, the Commissioner of Police in the state, told a newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday that other law enforcement officers would also be required.
Abba warned politicians and their supporters against unlawful brandishing of weapons during and after the polls or snatching election materials.
The commissioner explained that the police would deal decisively with culprits.
Abba further warned against violence at the polling units and collation centres, just as he insisted that malpractices would not be tolerated.
He said that bribery, corruption, impersonation, underage voting and disorderly conduct at the polling units, among others, would not be tolerated during the election.
The police chief advised politicians, their supporters and voters to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner, assuring that the police would diligently enforce the law.
The commissioner urged the police and other security personnel to make themselves accessible and approachable to all, warning politicians against moving from one polling unit to the other.
According to him, security operatives will arrest and prosecute politicians who contravene the law because politicians are not expected to monitor the election.
He added that there would be no movements as from 10 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Saturday, saying that the curfew would be strictly enforced by security operatives.
Abba said that all the flash points in the state would be adequately patrolled to avoid break down of law and order.
He commended the Rivers government for installing CCTV cameras at strategic locations in Port Harcourt, saying it had helped the police in crime detection and prevention.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission says it has recruited 16,000 ad-hoc staff in readiness to ensure the conduct of free and fair local government elections in the 21 out of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State.
Commissioner for Communication and Civil Education, Hon Nimi Walson-Jack who stated this while briefing journalists said this yesterday Saturday’s elections was significant because it would be the second election in the present commission would conduct, adding that the election would not hold in two local government areas, Degema and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas.
He explained that elections would not hold in Degema because the last election was held in November 2010 while the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni election outcome was still in court.
The commissioner noted that 60 political parties had indicated interest to contest the chairmanship and councillorship seats in the 21 local government councils in the state.
Walson-Jack explained that the 60 political parties were not fielding candidates for all the seats in the councillors and chairmen.
According to him, in order to avoid litigations for exclusion, the commission designed ballot papers to accommodate the 60 political parties, but voters would only vote within the jurisdictions of their local governments and wards.
In collation of results, the commissioner said presiding officers would take into consideration only the votes cast for the contesting parties in that particular wards or local governments.
He said RSIEC will only supervise the elections and that the commission would not be at the polling centres, adding that the polling centres would be manned by 16,000 ad-hoc staff of the commission
“The ad-hoc staff have been recruited through open process, shortlisted and trained in order to update their knowledge of the modified voting process”.
He, however, said they were counting on the dedication and commitment of these ad-hoc staff that would guarantee free and fair elections.
He warned that ballot boxes with ballot papers should not be taken away from the units without votes being counted, stating that after the elections, the votes would be counted at the units before they area taken to the collation centres.
He further warned that collation centres are for the addition of figures not for counting of votes.
According to him, it was the responsibility of voters to ensure that their votes are counted, recorded and announced to them. Walson-Jackson said the 9.am time was to allow all materials to get to the polling units in all the local government areas, assuring that personnel and materials would arrive on eve of the elections.
He said the security of voters, ad-hoc staff had been guaranteed by security agencies, stating that restriction of movement had been ordered from Friday night to Saturday morning.
The commissioner said by the Rivers State Electoral Law as amended, it is an electoral offence to gather not for the purpose of the election and enjoined residents to cancel all social programmes.
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
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