News
Rivers LG Polls: Police Deploy 20,000
The Rivers police command, has deployed 20,000 policemen for the local government elections in the state scheduled for tomorrow.
Mr Suleiman Abba, the Commissioner of Police in the state, told a newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday that other law enforcement officers would also be required.
Abba warned politicians and their supporters against unlawful brandishing of weapons during and after the polls or snatching election materials.
The commissioner explained that the police would deal decisively with culprits.
Abba further warned against violence at the polling units and collation centres, just as he insisted that malpractices would not be tolerated.
He said that bribery, corruption, impersonation, underage voting and disorderly conduct at the polling units, among others, would not be tolerated during the election.
The police chief advised politicians, their supporters and voters to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner, assuring that the police would diligently enforce the law.
The commissioner urged the police and other security personnel to make themselves accessible and approachable to all, warning politicians against moving from one polling unit to the other.
According to him, security operatives will arrest and prosecute politicians who contravene the law because politicians are not expected to monitor the election.
He added that there would be no movements as from 10 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Saturday, saying that the curfew would be strictly enforced by security operatives.
Abba said that all the flash points in the state would be adequately patrolled to avoid break down of law and order.
He commended the Rivers government for installing CCTV cameras at strategic locations in Port Harcourt, saying it had helped the police in crime detection and prevention.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission says it has recruited 16,000 ad-hoc staff in readiness to ensure the conduct of free and fair local government elections in the 21 out of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State.
Commissioner for Communication and Civil Education, Hon Nimi Walson-Jack who stated this while briefing journalists said this yesterday Saturday’s elections was significant because it would be the second election in the present commission would conduct, adding that the election would not hold in two local government areas, Degema and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas.
He explained that elections would not hold in Degema because the last election was held in November 2010 while the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni election outcome was still in court.
The commissioner noted that 60 political parties had indicated interest to contest the chairmanship and councillorship seats in the 21 local government councils in the state.
Walson-Jack explained that the 60 political parties were not fielding candidates for all the seats in the councillors and chairmen.
According to him, in order to avoid litigations for exclusion, the commission designed ballot papers to accommodate the 60 political parties, but voters would only vote within the jurisdictions of their local governments and wards.
In collation of results, the commissioner said presiding officers would take into consideration only the votes cast for the contesting parties in that particular wards or local governments.
He said RSIEC will only supervise the elections and that the commission would not be at the polling centres, adding that the polling centres would be manned by 16,000 ad-hoc staff of the commission
“The ad-hoc staff have been recruited through open process, shortlisted and trained in order to update their knowledge of the modified voting process”.
He, however, said they were counting on the dedication and commitment of these ad-hoc staff that would guarantee free and fair elections.
He warned that ballot boxes with ballot papers should not be taken away from the units without votes being counted, stating that after the elections, the votes would be counted at the units before they area taken to the collation centres.
He further warned that collation centres are for the addition of figures not for counting of votes.
According to him, it was the responsibility of voters to ensure that their votes are counted, recorded and announced to them. Walson-Jackson said the 9.am time was to allow all materials to get to the polling units in all the local government areas, assuring that personnel and materials would arrive on eve of the elections.
He said the security of voters, ad-hoc staff had been guaranteed by security agencies, stating that restriction of movement had been ordered from Friday night to Saturday morning.
The commissioner said by the Rivers State Electoral Law as amended, it is an electoral offence to gather not for the purpose of the election and enjoined residents to cancel all social programmes.
The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a budget of 19,636,030 Units of Account (UA) (26 million dollars) for the 2026 fiscal year, and announced plans to commemorate its 25th anniversary in November.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Hadjia Memounatou Ibrahima, who announced this, said the development followed the recent conclusion of its 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
She said the budget was adopted by the Parliament during plenary, stressing that, beyond being a mere accounting act, it was the engine of parliament’s commitment to West Africans.
”It will enable us to carry out our priority missions, including implementing the conclusions of the seminar on AI, while ensuring virtuous and transparent management of public funds entrusted to us.
”This budget represents a five per cent increase compared to the 2025 fiscal year budget, reflecting an upward adjustment of UA 939,233 from last year’s UA 18,996,897.
”Out of the budget of UA 19,636,030 for 2026, the sum of UA19, 368,394 representing 98.64 per cent is expected to be financed through the proceeds from the Community Levy, while UA257,636, equivalent to 1.36 per cent, will accrue from other sources,” Ibrahima said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ECOWAS Community Levy is a mandatory 0.5 per cent tax imposed on goods imported into ECOWAS member states from non-ECOWAS countries.
Member states are under statutory obligation to pay the community levy, which is the main source of funding for ECOWAS institutions and their activities.
Ibrahima, however, expressed dismay that some members of the community were still defaulting on the payment of the levy, and warned that, going forward; such would be met with sanctions.
She also said that the commemoration of its 25th anniversary in November would highlight the ECOWAS Parliament’s achievements in deepening regional democracy, cooperation and growth, amid formidable challenges.
The Speaker described the forthcoming anniversary as “a chance to showcase resilience and chart a more innovative, youth-focused future for the community”.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
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