RSIEC Confirms Kick-Off Of Party Primaries …As 18 Parties Mobilise To Contest LG Polls

Ahead of the April 17, 2021 Local Government Council Election in the state, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has confirmed that political parties have commenced the conduct of party primaries to elect who will represent them both at the councillorship and chairmanship levels.
In a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Civic Education, Mrs. Sarah Hope Menney-Amgbare, yesterday, and made available to The Tide, the commission stated that the primaries, which kicked-off on Monday, January 25, 2021, would last for six days.
According to the statement, 18 political parties have already indicated interest to participate in the Local Government Council Elections.
The statement further urged political parties to be civil in the conduct of their party primaries and play according to the guidelines, as released by RSIEC in the conduct of the 2021 LGA elections.
It would be recalled that last year, after meeting with stakeholders, RSIEC announced that it would conduct local council polls in April, 2021.
The guidelines released, last year, by the state electoral umpire, had indicated that party primaries would commence in January.
The commission had promised to conduct a free and fair local government election in the state.
The commission also promised to conduct the polls in all the 23 local government areas of the state, and assured that it would give political parties equal opportunity in the poll.
The Chairman of RSIEC, Hon. Justice George Omereji (rtd) had also said during sensitisation tour across the state, last year, that the voters need to be informed of the election, stressing that the commission would conduct a hitch-free poll.
He stated that election was not a do or die affairs, urging political parties to play by the rules of the game.
Omereji said, “We are here to sensitize the Stakeholders in local government areas that electoral will soon come in 2021”.

By: Reward Akwu