Governor Siminalayi Fubara faces different backlash over what has been described as an "abuse of democracy."
The Centre for Truth and Justice (CTJ) has strongly condemned the electoral process, which was conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on October 5.
Despite a Federal High Court ruling that halted the elections due to procedural violations, the polls proceeded, raising serious concerns about their legitimacy.
The elections were marred by RSIEC's failure to publish the legally mandated 90-day notice before scheduling the vote, a requirement intended to ensure transparency and fairness. This oversight led Justice Peter Lifu to restrict the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing voter registration data and prohibited security forces from overseeing the polling activities. Nevertheless, the elections went ahead, resulting in the Action Peoples Party (APP) securing 22 out of the 23 local government chairmanships.
Obinna Francis, Executive Director of CTJ, criticized the election for lacking "transparency, accountability, or legitimacy," and expressed concern over Governor Fubara's decision to continue with the election process. He described this action as setting a "dangerous precedent" that threatens the very fabric of democracy, calling it a "travesty of democracy, an affront to the will of the people, and a direct assault on the rule of law."
The Centre's denouncement underscores the urgent need for strict adherence to democratic procedures in future elections. It calls into question the legitimacy of the current local government administration in Rivers State and highlights significant concerns regarding accountability and integrity in the state's political processes.
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