LG Polls: SA Wants Choice Of Credible Candidates

As jostle for elections into local government councils in Rivers State gains momentum, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Inter-Party Affairs, Hon Opakirite Jackreece has called on political parties to ensure transparent selection process that will produce credible and popular candidates for chairmanship and councillorship positions.
Hon Jackreece, who made the call in an interview with newsmen, yesterday said what the various political parties needed at this time in the political history of Rivers State was to put in place transparent intra-party selection process that would produce credible and popular flag bearers for the forthcoming local government elections.
“It is the desire of the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike to host free, fair, transparent and non-violent elections in Rivers State for the world to applaud. That is why he has made it clear that he has not endorsed any candidate even in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the elections.
“It therefore behooves on the internal mechanisms saddled with the responsibility of selecting candidates in all the political parties to ensure transparent and credible process in the screening and conduct of their primary elections,” he said.
Hon Jackreece said the process of eliminating electoral violence should begin with the internal process of choosing credible and popular candidates and “that responsibility demands that those assigned to do the job in the parties should demonstrate utmost non-partisan approach in the screening and conduct of party primaries.”
He commended Governor Wike for debunking alleged endorsement of some persons in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that the pronouncement of the governor was an indication of his resolve to entrench free, fair, transparent and non-violent electoral culture in Rivers State.
He, therefore, urged the leadership of all the political parties and politicians in the state to support the move of Governor Wike by participating effectively in the forthcoming local government elections.
“Governor Wike is divinely positioned by God to take Rivers State to enviable heights both locally and internationally and the outcome of the forthcoming elections into the local government councils will be a confirmation,” he said.