26th May, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers state governor, Chibuike Amaechi has advised the newly sworn in local government chairmen and councillors to resist any attempt to sack them from office by the incoming administration of governor-elect, Nyesom Wike and be ready to challenge them in court.
Governor Amaechi gave the advice while swearing in the 22 Council Chairmen in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Amaechi insisted that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, obeyed the laws governing the conduct of local government elections for which the All Progressive Congress, APC, won all the chairmanship seats in a free and fair election that was devoid of violence unlike the the presidential and governorship election.
Amaechi stated that if Peoples Democratic Party, PDP decided to boycott the elections, it is their business because RSIEC conformed to the electoral law.
He described as shameful a situation where the number of registered voters were over inflated by the PDP in the presidential and governorship election results with the connivance of INEC.
Professor Augustine Ahiaozu the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, announced the results and declared that the elections were conducted in a free and fair atmosphere in all parts of the state, except Ogba/Egbema/Andoni area where elections will only take place next year.
Professor Ahiaozu further said APC won councillorship positions in 297 wards with ACD, PPA, SDP and PDC winning in other wards in five wards in different Local government areas of the state.
The Chairman of RSIEC thanked the security operatives and the adhoc staff, who ensured that the council polls were credible.
“The elections were held without any glitch, without report of violence that used to characterize elections in Nigeria.
“The Chairmanship elections were won by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in all the 22 Local government areas,” he said.