Rivers state announces date for local government elections

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, has announced that it has fixed the date to conduct local government elections in the state for October 5.

The Commission, on Monday, released its guidelines in view of the conduct of the council elections in the state.

This was coming as the police in the state have maintained the occupation of the local government area council secretariats following the leadership crisis rocking the councils.

Following the expiration of the tenure of the elected chairmen and councillors of the 23 LGAs, the governor of the state, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, inaugurated Caretaker Committees pending the conduct of council elections.

However, the development had sparked protests by the outgone chairmen loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.

They are insisting that the Martins Amaewhule-led State Assembly had extended their tenure by six months in the repealed Local Government Administration law of the state.

However, RSIEC met with the leaders of political parties and major stakeholders in the state, over conducting the elections.