The Rivers State Ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a stern warning to Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Friday, October 4, urging him to respect the Federal High Court’s ruling that prohibits the conduct of local government elections scheduled for October 5.
In a statement, PDP State Chairman Chukwuemeka Aaron stressed that no one should participate in or facilitate any election that defies the court’s decision. He emphasized that conducting or participating in such elections would be illegal and a violation of the court’s order.
Aaron urged residents to ignore any announcements promoting the October 5 elections, citing the Federal High Court’s judgment as binding. He reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, insisting that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and the state government must comply with all court rulings, without selectively choosing which to follow.
He called on Governor Fubara, a PDP member, to fully respect the court’s decision and avoid actions that could undermine the legal process.
He said: “The PDP, having reviewed all the cases relating to the local government elections, concludes as follows: we cannot 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 cannot 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.
“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.”
