The Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence, has condemned the October 5th local government elections in Rivers State, describing it as “illegal.”
In a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator, Haruna Bature and the Chairman, Abuja Chapter, Comrade Ogah Mark and made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA, the group said the elections, conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), was marred by gross irregularities and legal violations as such cannot and must not be recognized.
“The Federal High Court in Abuja, under the judicious eye of Hon. Justice Peter Lifu, has halted the release of the voters’ register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to RSIEC.
“This ruling highlights the deliberate disregard for legal processes by Governor Sim Fubara and his administration, whose attempts to rush the inauguration of appointed chairmen cannot mask the fact that the law has already caught up with them. Their refusal to obey lawful court orders has rendered their actions null and void.
“We draw attention to the following critical points that expose the illegitimacy of these elections:
“Absence of Security Agencies: No security personnel were present during the electoral process, raising concerns about safety and integrity,” it stated.
The statement also noted that RSIEC proceeded without the INEC-certified voters’ register, which is a fundamental requirement in electoral process in the country.
“All sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials were distributed directly from the Rivers State Government House, undermining transparency.
“The APP sponsored 23 local government chairmanship candidates and 319 councillorship candidates, while the Labour Party (LP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP) fielded only about 30% of the required candidates for the elections,” the statement added.
It further alleged that elections were conducted in only 2,405 out of 6,866 polling units, yet RSIEC declared winners in all wards and local government areas without credible justification.
“No Use of BVAS: The Biometric Voter Authentication System (BVAS) was not utilized, further questioning the validity of the process.
“RSIEC recruited all ad-hoc staff from a list provided by Governor Fubara, creating a conflict of interest.
“Voters did not use any voter cards, resulting in a disorganized and unmonitored voting process.
“With an average turnout of merely 8 voters per polling unit, only 19,204 voters participated out of a total of 3,215,273 registered voters in Rivers State.
“There was no accreditation of voters or ward and local government area collations, nor was there any electronic transmission of results.
“Given these blatant violations, we call on the Federal Government to implement the Supreme Court judgment regarding local government financial autonomy,” it stated.
Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence also called for funds meant for Rivers State local governments to be seized and redirected to ensure lawful elections with proper
governance.
“Governor Sim Fubara must recognize that he cannot deceive himself or the citizens of Rivers State.
“His actions have already invalidated any semblance of legitimacy in these elections.
“The Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence stands firmly in support of a democratic process rooted in law and transparency. We urge all stakeholders to join us in advocating for accountability and integrity in our electoral system.
“Together, let us ensure that the voices of the people are respected, and that the rule of law prevails in Rivers State and across Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
