Voter apathy greets local council polls in Rivers
…Exercise was peaceful — Stakeholders
Barth Ndubuwah,Port Harcourt
The April 17 local government election in Rivers State on Saturday witnessed voter apathy, but stakeholders comprising mainly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members applauded the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for a job well done. They described the election as generally peaceful.
First to comment was a PDP chieftain and former governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Chief Sergeant Awuse, who said that the Saturday’s local government election will go down in history as the most peaceful, free and fair election in the State in recent times.
He thanked Gov. Nyesom Wike for his leadership style, which he said has put the party in a winning footing even in 2023.
Awuse said from Ward 3, Akpabu up to Ogbakiri in Emohua Local Government Area, the election was peaceful.
“We are grateful to governor Wike in the way he has organized the party so far. We also commend RSIEC for conducting a free and fair election,” Awuse said.
In his own remarks,the Commissioner for Housing in the State, Hon. Chinedu Tasie said, “If elections were to be like this, nobody will have issues.The reason is because materials came on time, electoral officers and security agents were in their duty posts and everything went on smoothly. In short I score the election 100%. In Ibaa and Obele here everything went well. I urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to learn from RSIEC if we must have free and fair election in 2023,” Tasie said.
On his part, former Commissioner for Works in Rivers State, Hon Harrison Barthwell said even though materials arrived late in his Ward 16, Unit 3, Rumuodor-Ogbogoro, in Obio Akpor Local Government Area, the election was hitch-free.
He urged voters, especially youths to be law-abiding and cast their votes peacefully.
In Ngo-Andoni Ward 1, Unit 9, the Lawmaker, representing Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Inombek Abiante described the election as transparent. He lauded RSIEC for doing an excellent job.
The PDP chairmanship candidate in the council poll at Andoni Local Government Area, Hon. Erastus Awortu commended RSIEC for conducting a free and fair election, expressing confidence that he will emerge victorious at last.
