● Says the Rivers  LG election must take place

By PHC Telegraph

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has issued a stern warning to troublemakers planning to storm the headquarters of the  Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission asking them to stay clear.

Fubara gave the warning in the Rivers capital, Port Harcourt when he paid a visit to the premises of the Commission to see things for himself.

The Governor’s visit had come against the backdrop  of widespread rumours which suggested that unruly elements, allegedly controlled by the Minister of the FCT,  Barrister Nyesom Wike, who are purportedly bent on frustrating the conduct of the forthcoming Local Government Elections had planned to occupy the offices of RSIEC.

Exchanging views with Retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli and other officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Fubara declared, “Nobody has a right to come here.”

“This is (the) Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission”, the Governor went on, “It belongs to Rivers State, and I am the Governor.”

Urging staff of the Commission not to entertain any fear in the discharge of their statutory functions,  Fubara remarked, “if there is anything, let me know, I will come here myself.”

The State’s number one citizen vowed that nothing would stop RSIEC and the present administration in the State from going on to conduct local elections.

“Our election will hold on the 5th of October, 2024. I’m aware that RSIEC told me that they already had an order mandating them to conduct the election on the 5th October, 2024, and the security agencies to support them.

“So, I think with that order, the election will hold” Governor Fubara stated while reacting to subterranean efforts by Nyesom Wike and his supporters to scuttle the election.

“I might not be a lawyer but I know there is something they call first-in-hand, and since they (RSIEC) have the first-in- hand, we will give them all the necessary support for that election to be conducted. It will be one of the best elections ever conducted, free and fair, in this State.”

 Governor Fubara who has stoutly surmounted attempts by Wike to pull the rung from under his feet warned people not to allow themselves to be used by misguided elements who do not wish Rivers State well.

“What is important to me”, the Governor  stressed, “is the interest of Rivers State, that it has to be alive. It doesn’t belong to anybody.

“I don’t care who nominated you but do the right thing, that is what is important to me, because if we make a mistake today, it is going to live with us forever.”

Hinting troublemakers that he would personally take charge of the protection of democratic institutions owned by the State, Fubara restated, “Nobody has a right to come here”

Although Wike has revealed recently that he is ready to teach Fubara a few political lessons, he has not reacted to allegations that he and his supporters are planning to undermine law and order.

One well-placed insider in Wike’s camp said to the Telegraph that the Rumueprikon born politician is worried that “the control of the Rivers grassroots by the Governor and his men would represent Fubara’s final conquest over him.”

“Wike is willing to do a deal with the devil in order to find a way of scuttling Saturday’s election. I must say Fubara has been alert and dogged”, the pro-Wike supporter added.

For weeks. Wike’s  Stormtroopers have been waiting for a judgment with which to stop Fubara from either consolidating his hold on power or organising local government council elections in Rivers State.

But the Nigerian Constitution is clear on the nature of elections and the interventions of the courts.

It holds that no court of law can prevent an election from taking place, meaning there is a limit that a “procured judge” acquired to “ruffle political feathers” may go in helping a “recommended litigant”.