RSIEC Releases Guidelines On Grants To Parties

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the commission will not pay election grants to political parties without an office in the state capital, nothwithstanding their expression of interest to be part of the June 16 2018 local government election.
The Chairman/Chief Electoral Commissioner of RSIEC, Justice Chukwuneye Uriri (retired) who gave the warning in the guideline and timetable released last week, said political parties which have indicated interest to participate in the elections shall be eligible for grants fixed by the commission for the purpose of conducting their primary elections for the nomination of candidates for elections.
Justice Uriri noted that only political parties that have verifiable offices within Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local Government Area, would be given grants.
He also revealed that subsequent grants to these political parties shall be on a pro-rata basis in relation to the number of chairmanship and councillorship seats for which the candidates of the political parties have been successfully screened.
The RSIEC boss warned that political parties, candidates or supporters should not use any property or house belonging to the government before the election and also should not hold meeting in public buildings or places of worship.
According to him,’’ campaigns of other political party or candidates shall not be disrupted or obstructed as he directed all participating political parties to submit comprehensive election campaign schedule to the commission for clearance’’.
He further warned political parties and candidates that no nomination shall be valid unless the sum of #5,000 for councilor and #10,000 for chairman and vice chairman are paid to the commission through bank draft to the commission’s account at the time of delivery of the nomination paper.
Uriri however said every candidate may appoint a Party Agent to each polling station or unit in the area for which he is a candidate in other to ensure that the interest of the candidate is protected.