RSIEC Set For Bye-Election In Rivers

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) says it is set to conduct re-run and bye elections even as it has closed the collection of forms for the councillorship in four local government areas in the state.

Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack commissioner in charge of publicity and civil education, who gave the indication at the weekend in Port Harcourt, said: the commission will organise the re-run election for councillorship positions in Ward 12 Ahoada East, Ward 8 in Ahoada West while bye election will be held in four local government Councils, Ahoada East, Ward 5, Asari-Turu Ward 6, Emohua Ward 12 and Ikwerre.

He explained that the bye election is scheduled to hold next month following the death of the councilor representing these wards.

The commissioner who refused to mentioned number of expression of interest forms so far collected, noted that after the screening of candidates, then, the commission will make public those contesting for the election.

The election slated for August, 14th is a re-run and bye elections, explaining that Ward 8, Ahoada West is a re-run elections held on March 29, 2008, which was nullified by the Rivers State election petitions tribunal, which subsequently directed that the re-run be held upon the inclusion of the names of a particular candidate in the register of voters by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Earlier, the commission had in a press statement announced that it has received the updated register of voters in the Wards earmarked for the bye-election.

The release further stated that the re-run elections in Ward 8 AWELGA is open to those political parties and candidates that contested in the 2008 local government council elections in the affected wards.