Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has declared October 3 and 4, 2024, as public holidays in preparation for the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5. In a state-wide broadcast, Fubara urged citizens to “come out en-masse” to vote and announced a total restriction on movement from midnight on October 4 to 5 p.m. on October 5, except for those with valid election credentials.

Fubara assured residents that elections across the state’s 23 local government areas would proceed smoothly, stating, “Today, RSIEC has expressed and demonstrated concrete and verifiable capacity and readiness to conduct the 2024 Rivers State local government elections on October 5.” He emphasized the state’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections, citing the Supreme Court and Rivers State High Court rulings mandating the elections.

He noted that 17 out of 18 political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), had registered candidates and encouraged voters to participate peacefully, with security agencies on alert to maintain order.

Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, Dr. Johnson Sinikiem, denied claims that the state’s voters register had been handed over to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), citing a Federal High Court order blocking the release. Despite requests from RSIEC, Sinikiem said, “Up till now, we have not officially handed over the Rivers state voters register to RSIEC.”

However, APC’s Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, accused Governor Fubara of disregarding the rule of law and creating a hostile environment for elections, stating that the party was prepared to oppose what it called “impunity to court order.”