Mr Viral
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
released the voter register for the August 9 LGA elections in Rivers state.
Tamunotonye Tobins, the commissioner in charge of media and
civic education at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC),
said preparation for the elections is on course.
“RSIEC has obtained the updated register of voters for
Rivers state, along with the current list of registered political parties in
the country,” NAN quoted Tobins to have said.
He noted that the documents were transmitted to RSIEC by the
electoral commission in a letter marked INEC/RV/SVR/498/155.
“The commission reassures the people of Rivers state of
RSIEC’s commitment to conducting credible, free, and fair elections on
Saturday, August 9,” he said.
BACKGROUND
On October 5, 2024, the RSIEC conducted elections in 23 LGAs
in Rivers state.
The Action People’s Party (APP) secured victory in 22 LGAs,
while the Action Alliance (AA) won in one.
The buildup to the LGA poll was marked by controversy with conflicting
court orders and pushback from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
On September 4, a high court in Rivers state held that RSIEC
could conduct the LGA election using the 2023 voter register.
On September 30, a federal high court in Abuja barred INEC
from releasing the voter register to RSIEC.
The court also restrained the inspector-general of police
(IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for
the elections.
Despite the federal high court ruling and the withdrawal of
security personnel, the elections were held.
On February 28, the supreme court nullified the elections.
A five-member panel of the apex court ruled in favour of an
appeal filed by the APC.
In its lead judgment delivered by Jamilu Tukur, the apex
court held that there was no evidence to show that the conditions set out in
section 150 (3) of the Electoral Act had been met before the electoral umpire
conducted the polls.
Subsequently, the RSIEC announced August 9, 2025, for the
conduct of fresh LGA elections in the state.
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