60 Parties To Contest Rivers LG Polls

About 60 political parties have indicated intention to contest the March 26, 2011 Local Government elections to be conducted in 21 Local Government Areas of Rivers State, the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has announced.

The disclosure was made on Monday by the Chairman of the State electoral body, Prof Nimi Briggs who was represented by the Commissioner for Public Enlightenment/Education, Barrister Nimi Walson-Jack in a chat with newsmen.

According to him, aside Degema and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas where elections were held later than others, the other 21 would have elections on 26th of March, 2011.

But before the Match 26th elections, he unveiled plans by RSIEC to monitor party primaries, which he said should be held seven days before the main elections by all participating political parties.

The essence of monitoring parties primaries, Prof Briggs said was to inject transparency into the electoral process, and to make sure that controversies do not arise.

He, however, said the conduct of the elections would be hinged on the planned Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voters register billed for next year January, and enjoined the citizenry to fully participate.

In the case where the voters’ registration fails, the RSIEC boss said the electoral body would resort to plan B yet to be disclosed by it.

For candidates to be declared  winners of chairmanship seats, he noted that they would have to score 2/3 majority of the votes, adding that results would be announced at the polling centres.

Explaining the rationale for the electoral body holding elections just barely three years before tenure expiration, he declared, “the law said we should hold elections between 30 to 90 days before the end of the tenure of elected council officers.

He continued, “there is a court ruling that caretaker committees are unconstitutional and we are following the law.”

Also on whether incumbent political office holders are eligible to contest the elections without resignation, Prof Briggs responded “that the law has been amended in 2002 and 2003 to give such officers 30 days to resign before elections. For now, the law does not require them to do so.”

Chidi Enyie