Amaechi’s LG polls 6 days to handover, recipe for chaos -PDP

The PDP in Rivers State says the local government elections scheduled to hold May 23 in the state is merely a means for siphoning state resources, fomenting crisis in the state and putting in known elements at the various local government areas that will act as a cog in the wheel of the laudable development programmes to be initiated by the in-coming government in the state.

Although 27 political parties have expressed interest to contest the LG elections scheduled to be supervised in 22 out of the 23 councils in the state, by, the state Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) the PDP says it will be no part of it.

A statement by the party read in part, “The PDP is surprised by such sudden realisation to hold this exercise, wondering why Amaechi did not give attention to it long before now when he had the opportunity and time since the tenure of the elected chairmen and councillors elapsed over a year ago”.

The party called on the people of the state to ignore the announcement by RSIEC calling for their participation in the proposed election, saying such action by Amaechi was a waste of time and Rivers money.

The statement issued by the media aide to the state PDP Chairman, Mr. Jerry Needam, said: “The PDP unequivocally rejects and dissociates itself from such arrangement by the Amaechi-controlled Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission under Prof. Augustine Ahiazu.

The party said the announcement was already generating anxiety, suspicion and distrust among the people, adding that it showed that the state was not ready for election now.

“Our analysis of this development points to the fact that hurrying to conduct election before the end of Governor Amaechi’s tenure (about four weeks) is done simply to justify the desires of the out-going governor, including causing political crisis in the state for the in-coming governor to contend with”, Needam said.

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