Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara insisted on Thursday that the state’s local government election, set for Saturday, October 5, would go ahead, despite concerns from his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The governor warned against any attempts by groups or people to disrupt the electoral process, underscoring that he would not allow any activities intended to cause confusion or instability in the state.
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to Wike, as well as a faction of the All Progressives Congress led by Chief Tony Okocha (also a known Wike loyalist), announced their withdrawal from the election earlier, citing irregularities and a lack of due process by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
However, the APC faction loyal to former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, led by Emeka Beke, continued to participate, distributing party flags to candidates in 22 of the state’s 23 local government areas.
The Okocha-led APC group filed a lawsuit against the RSIEC at the Federal High Court in Abuja, resulting in a temporary injunction that bans the Independent National Electoral Commission from providing the voter registration for the election.
The court also prohibited security organisations, such as the police and the Department of State Services, from providing security for the exercise.
Despite the legal challenges, the RSIEC declared its readiness to hold the poll on Saturday, claiming access to the voter registration, contrary to INEC’s position.
On Thursday, top PDP politicians and thousands of supporters marched through the streets to protest the RSIEC’s planned election conduct.
During a stakeholders’ meeting at Government House, Governor Fubara chastised the protesters while admitting that he was also at a disadvantage because his party (the PDP) did not participate in the election.
“You know, in this election, I am the greatest loser because my party is not participating. But due to the Supreme Court ruling that there must be elected officials to manage the affairs of local governments, as governor, I have to comply,” Fubara stated.
He added that following the Supreme Court verdict, they met with President Bola Tinubu and promised to comply with the ruling within 90 days. As a result, Fubara insisted on conducting the local government election even though the PDP was not involved.
The governor expressed irritation with the opposition to the election in Rivers State, adding that other states throughout the country had held local government elections using the 2023 voter register without incident.
“Ten states of the federation have conducted elections with the 2023 voter register. I don’t know why things in Rivers State are always different. Is it that when it comes to the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is interpreted differently for Rivers State?” Fubara asked.
He further claimed that some of the demonstrators were transported into the city from the border towns of Imo State, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, and Akwa Ibom State to cause disturbance.
“No matter the guise or level of ‘aluta continua’ posture that the detractors adopt, the local government election will proceed as planned,” the governor emphasised.
Fubara closed by inviting registered voters and party leaders to attend their polling stations on Saturday to participate in the election and ensure that the process runs smoothly.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")