The Rivers State Government has dismissed any ruling stopping the upcoming local government elections.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Joe Johnson, the Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to intervene in matters concerning the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). Speaking during an interview on Nigeria Info's Morning Crossfire, Johnson described any Federal High Court rulings on RSIEC as an "academic exercise" and reiterated that the election scheduled for Saturday will proceed as planned.
“Whatever the Federal High Court has brought has no meaning and does not have weight,” he said.
In response to the Rivers State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) denying the handover of the 2023 voters' register to RSIEC, Johnson expressed confidence in the integrity of the RSIEC chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retired). He stated that he does not believe the chairman would lie about receiving the voters' register.
Regarding concerns that the People's Democratic Party (PDP), which the Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara belongs to, is not participating in the election, Johnson acknowledged the governor's disappointment but added that he is not overly distressed.
"The governor will not come and climb the rooftop and begin to cry," Johnson said.
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