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The governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has supported the decision of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to hold local government elections in May 2015, noting that the decision is in accordance with the law.
The Rivers State Governor made this known while speaking with the press men at the State Government House in Port Harcourt. Governor Amaechi argued that nothing should stop the holding of the council elections in the state as scheduled by the RISIEC in as much as it is in line with the rules of law.
It would be recalled that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, had objected to the decision and announcement made by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct all local government council elections on May 23, 2015 on the premise that the commission has failed to give a minimum notice of 90 days as required by the law
However, Amaechi argued that since the PDP was not comfortable with RISIEC’s decision to hold council elections, the party should go to a state High Court.Amaechi cautioned that only the state High court would entertain such a matter, adding that a Federal High Court has no jurisdiction on matters concerning local government elections.
“If they are complying with the law then they are in order, if they are not complying with the law then they (PDP) should go to the State High Court and stop it.
“If they go to the Federal High Court, they should know that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction and I hope that everybody will be careful this time because the Federal Government will be serious with anybody who decides to manipulate the system,” the governor said.
Amaechi reasoned that the elections would allow the electorate to choose who would govern them, maintaining that the people of the state were not allowed to choose thier leaders in the 2015 general election.
“You know in the last (general) elections, the people did not choose who will govern them. But this time, the people will be allowed to choose who will govern them as chairmen of council and councillors.
“I don’t see how they can stop the local government council elections from going on,” Amaechi added.
The governor dismissed claims that the All Progressives Congress was having internal wranglings over ministerial appointments and pointed out that the party had yet to conclude on the matter.
He said, “There has not been any crisis whatsoever since the elections. There has been only one meeting that was held that has to do with zoning of offices and they said the elders should go and zone the offices and the elders are yet to return to the party. So all you are hearing are speculations.”
He agreed with the position of President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), that ministerial appointees must declare their assets.
“They (ministerial appointees) don’t have any choice. If you want to serve in the new administration you will have to abide by the rule to publicly declare your assets,” Amaechi said.
