By Damilare Adeleye
Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged residents of the state to disregard the upcoming local government elections slated for October 5, 2024.
PDP State, Chairman Chukwuemeka Aaron, emphasized during a press briefing that participating in or conducting elections that deviate from the federal high court’s judgment would be unlawful.
The party stressed that nobody should participate in or allow the conduct of any local government elections that go against the court’s ruling.
Aaron, while reiterating the party’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, added that both the RSIEC and the State government cannot choose which court orders to obey or ignore.He called on Rivers State Governor, a PDP member, to comply fully with the court’s judgment.
He said, “The PDP, having reviewed all the cases relating to the local government elections, concludes as follows:“We can not support or promote lawlessness, or impunity in any form whatsoever even though we are the ruling party in Rivers State.
“The proper court judgment must be obeyed as we can not choose which order of the court to obey and not to obey.“We, therefore call on the Rivers State Governor who incidentally is a member of our great party the PDP to obey and comply wholly and strictly with the judgment of the Federal High Court in line with our character and ethics of our party, the PDP and suspend the planned October 5 Local Government elections in Rivers State.”Aaron commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for standing by the truth and complying with the court’s judgment, saying INEC had clarified that it did not release the Voters Register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), a critical requirement for the elections.
Also, he commended the Nigerian Police for standing by the Federal High Court judgment.
Aaron, however, cautioned that announcing election results despite the suspension would be considered an invitation to violence.
He added: “We also call on our members and indeed the law-abiding residents of Rivers State to defend the rule of law ensuring full compliance with the judgment from the Federal High Court.
“Nobody should participate in or allow the conduct of any local government elections in deviance from the judgement of the Federal High Court.
“We want to thank the INEC for standing on the part of the truth, clearing the air on the non-release of Voters Register to RSIEC and for complying with the Federal High Court judgment.
“We also commend the Nigerian Police for standing up to the Federal High judgment being the latest on the Rivers State Local government elections.
“We want to caution that any attempt to announce any results whatsoever will be an invitation to violence and will be properly revisited as no election will be held in Rivers State on the 5th of October as ordered by the court.
“We enjoin the general public to disregard any announcements calling for the October 5 local government elections, for the same is a call for crisis and which will not be in the interest of Rivers People.”