Labour Party, PDP, Others To Boycott Today’s Rivers Council Polls

SIX political parties in Rivers State, including the Labour Party (LP) will join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to boycott today’s local council elections in the state.

The State Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Felix Favour, who had earlier confirmed that his party would participate in the polls considering its confidence to win some council seats, yesterday disclosed that their latest decision to shun the elections followed noticeable compromise by the State Independent Electoral Commission.

He told journalists in Port Harcourt that the electoral body failed to follow due process in the conduct of the polls, noting that it allowed the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hold primaries in Oyibo Council, four days to the elections, which is against the law.

PDP on its part had earlier declared that it would not get involved in the elections, which they described as an exercise in futility.

State Chairman of the PDP, Felix Obuah warned that plans by the electoral umpire to proceed with the elections despite a court order that the status quo be maintained would be a wasteful exercise.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command has said it was ready to provide security for the exercise, which would take place in 21 out of the 23 local councils in the state.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Dan Bature, therefore, warned troublemakers to keep off if they loved their future.

Bature spoke while briefing journalists on their preparedness for the elections at the Command’s headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. He assured that with the cooperation of other security agencies, adequate security would be provided for the electorate and urged them to be peaceful during the exercise.

Meanwhile, the Command has ordered the restriction of movement of vehicles across the state between 10pm on Friday till 6am on Saturday except those on essential duties. The second and final lap of the restriction would be between 9am and 6pm today.

Bature said the restriction was aimed at ensuring peace and serenity across the state before, during and after the elections.