LG Polls: RSIEC Drops APC From Race

Ahead of Saturday, April 17, 2021 Local Government Election, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has displayed the list of 17 political parties that would jostle for Chairmanship and Councillor slots across the 23 LGAs of the state.
The list was displayed at the commission’s office along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday.
The political parties certified to participate in the election include, African Action Congress (AAC); Action Democratic Party (ADP); Accord Party (AP); Social Democratic Party (SDP); National Rescue Movement (NRM); Action Alliance (AA); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Labour Party (LP); and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Others are, Young Progressive Party (YPP); Allied Peoples Movement (APM); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); African Democratic Congress (ADC); New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Boot Party (BP); Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); and Action Peoples Party (APP).
The All Progressives Congress (APC), was, however, not listed.
It would be recalled that the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the APC in the state, Barrister Isaac Ogbogbula, had written to RSIEC Chairman, Justice George Omereji (rtd), intimating the commission that the party would not participate in the polls.
However, some followers of Senator Magnus Abe had insisted on participating in the LG polls in fragrant disregard to the directives of the National Executive of the party.
But the publication of the final list of parties to participate in the electoral process, has, however, put paid to their ambitions following what an APC chieftain told The Tide was a “case of crass imbecility and undue meddlesomeness.”
Omereji had said during a live radio programme in Port Harcourt that the logo of the APC would be on the ballot papers as the commission had already printed same.
The list has, however, proven that the APC had truly opted out of the election.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana