Rivers State Governor Declares Restriction of Human and Vehicular Movements Ahead of Saturday Election

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared restriction on vehicular and human movements, within and out of the state from the midnight of Friday, April 16, 2021 till 5pm on Saturday, April 17 as a result of the State Local Government Election by Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RVSIEC) scheduled for Saturday, April 17, 2021.

The governor who made this known during a state broadcast said the restriction was fixed till 5pm when the state council polls would have been over except for persons and vehicles strictly on essential duties with genuine and valid identifications, adding that the election is necessitated by the fact that the three-year tenure of the incumbent chairmen and councillors of all the 23 local government councils will expire and terminate on June 15, 2021.

“The security agencies have been directed to strictly enforce the restriction on human and vehicular movements and arrest and prosecute any person who dares to violate this ban. I have been briefed, and received assurances from the RVSIEC that it is fully prepared and ready not only to conduct but also to ensure that polling is hitch-free, fair and credible.”

He further assured that adequate security have been put in place to ensure the safety of lives and properties during and after the election at all polling units and collation centres, urging voters to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the election and refrain from any act or behaviour that could cause a threat to the peaceful conduct of the election as election can never be a do or die affair; neither is it worth the blood of anybody.

“The security agencies have clear directives to arrest and deal decisively with any person or group of persons, no matter how highly placed, who attempts to prevent the peaceful and orderly conduct of the election or compromise its integrity in any way.

“We call on community leaders and the general public to be vigilant and promptly report every suspicious movement and or illegal activity around polling units and collation centres in their localities to the security agencies for immediate action.”

The scheduled election will hold in all 4,442 polling units, 319 wards and 23 local government areas in the state with candidates from 17 different political parties