The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has concluded its plan to conduct by- election in six LGAS of the State and general election in one LGA.
Briefing journalists at the end of a meeting held with representatives of the political parties in the state at the RSIEC office Aba Road, Port Harcourt, the state chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Augustine Ahiauzu noted that the Commission works in line with the State Independent Electoral Commission law No. 2 of 2001, as amended, Rivers State Local Government Law No. 3 1999 as amended and all other enabling laws and pursuant to the mandate of the commission to organize, undertake and supervise all elections into local government councils within the state and in exercise of the power of the commission to specify the date for the holding of the LGA elections in the state.
Professor Ahiazu added that the date of the election is as follows, Khana LGA ward 17 re-run 23rd February 2013, Oyigbo ward 8, 23rd 2013, Asari Toru ward 5, B-Election 23rd February 2013, Opobo/Nkoro Ward 1 Bye-Election, 23rd February, 2013, Eleme ward 6 Bye-election 23rd February 2013, Ahoada East ward 2 by-election 23rd February, 2013 while Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA general election holds on 2nd March, 2013.
According to him, political parties in Nigeria are eligible to sponsor candidates in the 2013 local government council election provided that such political parties complete and submit an expression interest form to RSIEC on or before 9th January, 2013.
Asked whether the government will not influence them to favour a particular political party to win election, Prof. Ahiauzu assured people of the state that nobody will influence the commission to favour any party and therefore the bye elections will be free and fair. ###
