Fubara imposes two days holiday, strict movement restrictions for upcoming LG elections
Gov of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
By Okafor Ofiebor, Port Harcourt
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has declared October 3 and 4 2024, as public holidays.
The move is aimed at allowing residents ample time to travel to their respective communities to participate in the Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024.
In a state-wide broadcast from Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Fubara also announced a strict restriction on vehicular movement from midnight on Friday, October 4, until 5 p.m. on Election Day.
The restriction is intended to maintain order and ensure peaceful polls throughout the state.
Fubara explained that the public holidays are necessary for residents to prepare adequately for the elections, following the expiration of the tenure of the current local government councils and a Supreme Court judgment that mandated the conduct of the elections.
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He emphasized that failing to hold the elections would result in Rivers State losing statutory allocations for its local government areas.
Fubara further assured citizens of the readiness of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct free, fair, and credible elections.
The governor confirmed that 17 out of 18 registered political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), are participating in the elections.
“We have left no stone unturned to provide security and logistics for the polls,” Fubara said. “All registered voters are encouraged to go to their polling units and vote for their preferred candidates, while security personnel will be deployed to maintain peace.”
Fubara issued a stern warning against any attempts to disrupt the electoral process, stating that security agencies had been directed to arrest and prosecute violators of the movement restriction.
As the state prepares for the polls, the governor reassured residents of the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and delivering a credible election that will produce new leaders for the 23 local government councils in Rivers State.
