Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4, 2024 as public holidays to enable residents of the State to travel to their various communities to participate in the Saturday, October 5, Local Government elections.
Fubara made the declarations in a broadcast to the people of Rivers State at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He also announced strict restriction of vehicular movement of residents from midnight on Friday, October 4 to 5pm on Election Day.
“I wish to assure every resident that the election for the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers State shall be held on Saturday 5th October 2024 throughout the State,” he said.
“The State Government has provided the necessary funds and logistics for RSIEC, which has assured me that it is fully prepared and ready to conduct and deliver a fair, free, and credible Local Government Council election as scheduled.
“Therefore, I wish to advise and request all registered voters to go to their polling units to exercise their franchise by voting for the candidates of their choice as security personnel would be there to maintain order and ensure peaceful polls as a matter of constitutional duty.
“We are leaving no stone unturned to enable all registered voters to travel to their communities to participate and peacefully exercise their civic responsibility at their polling units.
“To this end, I hereby declare Thursday and Friday, the 3rd and 4th of October 2024 as public holidays for citizens to travel to their communities and participate in the election.
“Furthermore, I hereby place a total restriction on vehicular and human movements into, within, and out of the State, and the Local Government Areas, from midnight of Friday 4th October 2024 to 5.00 p.m. on Saturday 5th October 2024, except for persons and vehicles valid identifications who are on election and other essential duties.“
Fubara stated that the police and other security agencies have clear directives from the State’s Security Council to arrest and prosecute any person or group who attempts to violate the restriction on human and vehicular movements on election day.
He expressed his appreciation to the State’s Security High Command for their cooperation and commitment to effectively secure the State and ensure peaceful trouble-free local government elections.
He added that citizens owe the State the commitment to support the RSIEC to succeed in delivering on its constitutional duty to conduct a free, fair, and credible Local Government Council election.