Rivers LG polls: RSIEC denies resignation of chairman, insists election sacrosanct

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has described as false and misleading the claims circulating on social media that its chairman, Retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli, has resigned.

In a statement on Friday, signed by its Commissioner of Civic Education, Tamunotony Profit Tobins, RSIEC announced that non-sensitive materials for the election have already been transported across the state, adding that the updated 2023 voters’ registers have been posted in all 6,366 polling units across the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

The commission stated that it has completed a critical aspect of tomorrow’s (Saturday) election, culminating in the successful distribution of non-sensitive materials and the mobilization of election logistics ahead of the voting scheduled for Saturday.

RSIEC urged residents to participate in the election and exercise their franchise in strict compliance with electoral laws.

“The attention of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has been drawn to spurious information making the rounds that the Chairman/Chief Electoral Commissioner, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli DSSRS (RTD), has resigned.

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“The above claim is mischievously false, baseless, and a fabricated lie from the pit of hell, calculated to mislead the public. For the avoidance of doubt, the Chairman/Chief Electoral Commissioner is still in charge and has not resigned, as maliciously circulated across the media space.

“The non-sensitive materials for the Saturday, 5th October, local government poll have already been transported across the state.

“It is also imperative to note that the 2023 updated voters’ registers have been posted across all the 6,366 polling units in all the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

“RSIEC wishes to inform the public that we have concluded a critical aspect of tomorrow’s election, which culminated in our successful distribution of non-sensitive materials and the mobilization of election logistics ahead of voting tomorrow.”

The electoral commission emphasized the importance of the election, highlighting its alignment with the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s order directing RSIEC to ensure its conduct.

RSIEC reaffirmed that the local government election will proceed as planned.

“Political party cards have been released, as required for the election.

“As Rivers people head to the polls in the next few hours, we implore all candidates, supporters, and the general public to exercise their franchise in strict compliance with the Electoral Law.

“The voting centers will open on time as scheduled, as materials have been moved to the respective distribution points for all the polling units, and voters’ registers have also been released to election staff.

“This election is critical and in line with the order on RSIEC from the Supreme Court of Nigeria to ensure the conduct of the election, the RSIEC Law of 2018, the judgment of Hon. Justice I.P.C. Igwe of the High Court of Rivers State delivered on 4th September 2024, and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), empowering us to conduct the Local Government Council election in Rivers State, as in other states of the Federation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we emphasize unequivocally that the 5th October 2024 Local Government Council Elections in Rivers State will hold as scheduled, and there is no going back.”