Thousands of supporters of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday staged a protest march in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, against the local government elections holding in the state on Saturday.
The protesters, who are largely members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, marched according to their local government areas and caused traffic jams along Aba Road, the main artery of the city.
They called on the Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RISIEC, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to obey the Abuja High Court order, which directed that INEC should not transmit the voters ‘ register to INEC to conduct the local government election.
Similarly, the members of the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, and the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Rivers State have also joined to call on RISIEC to comply with the Abuja high court order and suspend the process of the election.
“Respecting the court’s decisions is vital to maintaining peace and stability in Rivers State,” the Chairman of NYCN, Rivers State, Chimenem Worlu said.
He noted that going on with the election could lead to tensions, violence and unrest, which would undermine the rule of law and lead to dire consequences in the state.
The Chairman of RISIEC, Justice Enebeli however said that the election would go on as planned. He told a press conference that the law clearly stipulates that no no one can stop the elections once its processes had begun.
He also said that the issue of INEC not transmitting the voters’ to RISIEC was no longer material because INEC had since 2023 given the register to RISIEC.
