Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the October 5 Local Government election in the State is sacrosanct, saying no amount of propaganda will stop the election.
He said his conviction stems from the Supreme Court judgment that all states in the federation should have democratically elected local government executives, Mr. President’s 90 days window to states to comply with the Supreme Court ruling, and the substantive judgment by the Rivers State High Court that mandates the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct the election.
Governor Fubara made the declaration when members of the Rivers State Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) led by its Chairman, Solsuema Osaro paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The Governor, who expressed concern why people who earlier ascribed to the fact that parties are only a vehicle that convey people to positions of leadership and boosted to win all elective positions in the 23 local government areas if elections are conducted, are now scared to participate in the slated polls.
He assured that any attempt by anybody or group of people to disrupt the democratic process that is genuinely pursued in the State will be fought by the gods of the land.
“I am really happy that the Chairman, IPAC has said a few things. But, the records need to be properly presented to the public. There is no going back on the election come the 5th of October. There is no amount of propaganda, be it from the Judiciary end, be it from the law enforcement end …, that election would hold.
“What is the reason: first the Supreme Court has ruled that every state must migrate to elected local government executives. Among the states affected, 10 of these states have already held their elections, and if I am not mistaken, I stand to be corrected. They used the 2023 voters register. Outside that, Mr. President, after the Supreme Court ruling, gave a window of 90 days when we went as governors to meet him, ensure that all the processes are completed.
“The issue of the court cases here and there, I can tell you, it is not an issue to stop the election. There is a substantive judgment giving the RSIEC all powers to ensure that election holds. And we are standing by that judgment to support RSIEC for the election.
“Also, I don’t know why people are scared. I used to hear them say before that party is just a vehicle. If party is just a vehicle, and today, not even my party, other parties are contesting election, and I try to be a referee, why are they restless. If you feel you are strong, through your heart into the ring. Why do you need to stop the process? Does it show any sign of sportsmanship? Does it show any sign that you love this State? A situation where this State will be the State that will be suspended, the activities of the civil servants will be suspended, local government workers will not earn their salaries again because you want to prove that you have some dirty power?”
“So, don’t be scared when you hear one party factional chairman will just sit somewhere and announce that he will not be part of the election for whatever reason. Even that factional chairman, some months ago was bragging, saying: what is the reason holding the Governor from conducting the election? That if he comes and conducts this election, he is going to win all the 23 local government areas.
“This world is so beautiful today. What we say here, the record will be there for the world to see. Bring that video and send it to him when he said the 23 local governments he is going to win. So, what has changed? We are conducting election now, you are the same person going to cry, you don’t want to participate in the election?
“So, any attempt by anybody or group of people to see that this process is disrupted, I can assure you, the gods of this land, what we stand for as a people who are fighting for genuine democracy will fight for us.”
Governor Fubara hinted of intelligence that mercenaries have been engaged within and outside the State to obstruct the elections, warning that such mercenaries will be adequately resisted.
The Governor assured that with God on the side of the State, and necessary information provided to relevant authorities involved in the election, the election will hold, results declared and elected officers sworn-in to discharge their responsibilities to the people at the grassroots.
He said, “I will also mention here: we are also aware that some mercenaries are being engaged within and outside the State. I feel sorry for whoever is going to be a victim of such thing. Because I know anybody who comes to obstruct this election will meet adequate and right resistance. It’s important that we defend this democracy, and we must start defending this democracy from the one that we have control over.
“But whichever way, I can assure you, God on our side, with the information we have given to the security agencies, the information we have given to all the authorities that are concerned, and are also needed in cause of this process, this election will hold, results will be declared, and the elected officers will be inaugurated, and a new government will commence as soon as possible.”
He assured to make the election process free and fair, and protect lives and property in the course of the election.
He added, “I can assure you, we took an oath before everyone of you. I swore before everyone that I will defend and protect the interest of Rivers State. And this particular responsibility, ensuring that this election holds is one of those responsibilities.
“You have all prepared for the election. We are going to make sure the process will be free and fair. As the umpire, we will also ensure that lives and property will be protected in the course of the election. What we request from you is go and perform your civic responsibility. Vote, support the candidates of your choice. Ensure that we take control of the democracy of our State. Ensure that you vote for the protection of lives and property of the people of this State. The State starts from the ward to the LGA, and from the LGA to the State. So, I want this State to be protected right from the point of the ward.
“You have my total support. I will ensure as the Governor and the Head of this Government, that we do all that is required, all that is needed to make sure that this process is driven to the end.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Rivers State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Solsuema Osaro, reiterated their position to participate in the election as well as support the government to drive the process to logical conclusion.
Osaro noted the plans by some persons to stall the electoral process and the court judgments warranting RSIEC to conduct the elections, promising to stand by RSIEC to conduct free, fair and transparent election that will stand the test of time in the nation.
He added, “Your Excellency, it is at a moment like this in the history of our State that patriotism is well defined. The members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Rivers State Council, have come in here today to visit you and to assure you that because of all the empirical activities and people- oriented programmes you have established, you’ve embarked upon, you are doing in Rivers State, and especially because of the most important election that affects the generality of the people in the State, the grassroots people, the election that has to do with the conduct and exercise that will bring in elected local government chairmen and councillors across the 23 LGAs and the 319 wards in Rivers State, that informed why we have come to see you, Your Excellency.
“It is true that some persons have attempted and are tempting to disrupt the entire exercise, but we have come to show you that we are standing tall with you in your quest to give us elected local government chairmen and councillors in Rivers State.
“We are well informed of the fact that some persons went to court to stop INEC from giving RSIEC the necessary voters register to conduct this election that is slated for 5th of October, 2024. We also are very much aware too that a competent court of jurisdiction sitting here in Rivers State has also given RSIEC the authority, the mandate to conduct this election, and has also mandated RSIEC to use the 2023 voters register to conduct this election in Rivers State.
“As the pillars of democracy, as the vehicles through which elected officers are driven into various positions, the political parties have arisen to say that we stand in solidarity with the desire of the state government and that of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct free, fair, transparent election in Rivers State that will stand Rivers State out in the comity of nations as a model state.
“We are quite aware that on the 11th of July, 2024, the highest court of the land, being the Supreme Court of Nigeria, gave a judgment that is to the fact that every state in Nigeria must have elected local government officials in the country. This Rivers State is not an exception. We are, therefore, standing on the judgment of the Supreme Court as well as the judgment delivered by Justice I. P. C. Igwe of the Rivers State High Court to say that the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), our members are prepared, are ready, willing to participate in this election.
“As patriotic citizens of Rivers State, we know all you have done and all you are doing to ensure that we have good governance in Rivers State, and if at this point in time, some detractors don’t want us to succeed, we have made it very clear that all of us that believe in the ideals of good Rivers State, purposeful leadership-driven Rivers State under your administration, we stand tall with you to ensure that we succeed.”
According to him, “The success of this election is to the benefit of Rivers people. The success of this election will allow Rivers people have the government at the grassroots that will empower the people, and whoever intends through covert or covert means, to stop this democratic process that is very important to Rivers people, we have arisen in one voice, one strength, one energy, to say we will stand for an ideal Rivers State were local government election will be conducted and elected officers will emerge through free, fair and transparent election that once again stand Rivers State out as a model state in Nigeria,” he added.
Eighteen out of the 19 registered political parties were represented at the meeting, including AA, AAC, ACCORD, ADC, ADP, APGA, APC, BOOT, LP, NCP, NNPP, APM, NRM, PRP, SDP, YP, YPP, and ZLP.