RSIEC Gets Set For Fresh LG Polls

RSIEC Gets Set For Fresh LG Polls

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has expressed its readiness to conduct elections into elective offices at the local government level.

This is coming barely 67 weeks after the previous  All Progressives Congress administration desperately conducted a  disputed LG election on May 23,  2015, just six days before handing over to a new Peoples Democratic Party administration in the state.

The Chairman of the commission, Rtd Justice C. Uriri expressed this commitment when members of the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Social Welfare, Rehabilitation, Pilgrims Board and RSIEC visited the commission as part of their oversight function, last Friday.

Speaking while responding to  an enquiry by the lawmaker representing Akuku Toru, Hon Major Jack, on the preparedness of the commission for the conduct of fresh elections,  Uriri stated, "We are highly prepared, we are ever ready, we have the capacity to conduct the election, I think we are ever ready".

He noted that with the calibre of personnel, the commission was ever sure of high performance, stressing that, already, they have conducted workshops and carried out sensitization in several local government areas.

However, while responding to a further query by Hon Wanaka Okpokiri, representing Ahoada West, who sought to know how ready they were, a member of the commission in charge of Administration and Training, Mr Robinson Monday, said they lacked funds to prosecute the task creditably.

Assuring them of their support, the Chairman of the committee, Hon Nnana Iroanya Opurum told them that they were in the commission otfind out how they can  assist them achieve their mandate.

He urged the chairman of the commission to avail the committee with his predecessor's handover note to enable them appreciate their challenges.

"No one handed over any note to us", Uriri stated, insisting that, the only thing they got was the building and some Toyota  vehicles which they had already distributed amongst the different commissioners.

In his remarks, Hon Nathaniel Uwaji, representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni constituency, encouraged members of the commission to partner with the committee to achieve success, urging them to furnish the committee with vital documents that would assist them in ensuring the realisation of the mandate of the government for Rivers people.