Some opposition political parties in Rivers State are insisting that the Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, should not oversee the conduct of local government elections in the state.
Their comments follow speculation that the local government elections may be held before the state of emergency ends.
Recall that the Justice Adolphus Enebeli-led Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had initially set August 9 as the deadline for conducting the elections, before it was dissolved by the Sole Administrator.
However, it remains unclear whether the newly constituted commission will follow the August timetable or establish a new one. Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, the Secretary of the Obedient Movement in Rivers State, Gogo Wellington, said the Sole Administrator is not democratically elected and, therefore, should not oversee the council elections.
Similarly, the Spokesman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state, Luckyman Igila, also stated that the Sole Administrator should not be in charge of the elections. The Chairman of the Allied People’s Movement, Dagogo Whyte, added that the current RSIEC cannot use the old timetable, as political parties are required to receive at least six months’ notice from the commission.
However, former Chairman of the Labour Party in the state, Favour Reuben, expressed a contrary view, saying there is nothing wrong with the Sole Administrator overseeing the conduct of the elections.
