A Port Harcourt based activist and the Executive Director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, says the forthcoming Local Government Council election in Rivers state slated to hold on August 30, is a bait by President Bola Tinubu to the people.
Dr. Fyneface who said this while speaking at a town hall meeting organised by Rivers Peace Initiative in collaboration with Super 92.3 fm Port Harcourt and Centre for Peace Security, University of Port Harcourt, on Friday, alleged that the poll was a ploy to extend the emergency rule in the state, which would expire on September 17, 2025.
He called on the people to cooperate with the Rivers state Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, to conduct a peaceful poll in order not to fall for the bait.
He said that the success of the poll should be the concern of all Rivers people, irrespective of political affiliations.
His words, “The forthcoming LG election is a bait to Rivers people in the sense that if anybody creates any problem that causes breakdown of law and order, Mr. President will have reason to extend the emergency rule that he said was for initial six months.
On March 18, 2025, Mr. President declared an emergency. He said it was for an initial six months. He also said that he declared it because there was crisis, breakdown of law and order.
“So, if there is no convincing evidence that peace has returned to the state, the emergency rule will not be lifted, which means it will be extended.
” I don’t want any Rivers man or woman to eat that bait that has been dropped by Mr. President to the Rivers people.
“They should cooperate with RSIEC. Let them conduct the election. Let peace reign in Rivers state.
I am seeing September 17th, which is the 6th month as the date that Mr. President will lift the emergency and restore democratic structure in the state.
“If Mr. President does not lift it and waits until 1st of October before doing so then the emergency in the state would have been violated”, the activist pointed out.
