Bro Felix Obuah, the Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security agencies to take a cue from the conduct of the just concluded local government elections by the state electoral umpire, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, so that most of the pitfalls that characterise national elections in the country will be put to rest.
Obuah in a statement by his media aide commended RSIEC for a very peaceful, free and credible chairmanship and councillorship polls across the 23 local government areas of the state on June 16.
He also lauded the massive turnout of Rivers people and residents in the state for the exercise, describing it as most commendable and encouraging.
Obuah noted that the smooth and rancour-free council elections as witnessed last Saturday in all the 319 wards and over 4,000 electoral units in the state had proved beyond doubt that free, fair and credible elections are still possible in Nigeria only if INEC, electoral officials and security agencies will be sincere and committed to their respective duties and to the ideals of democracy during elections.
He expressed joy that the successful and peaceful conduct of the elections had not only exposed those usually behind election crisis in the state in the past but also confirmed the promise of the PDP-led state government under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike to institutionalize a cost-effective and less rancorous model for future local government elections in the State.
Obuah enjoined Rivers people especially the youths to learn to imbibe democratic ideals and ingenious methodologies of all time experienced leaders and Democrats in the person of Governor Wike, whom he described as a rare political gem.
“ It is only through such non-partisan attitude that a perfect electoral system that is universally acceptable could evolve,” he said.
Obuah congratulated all the newly elected council chairmen and councilors on their electoral victories and enjoined them to join hands with the state chief executive to ensure that development gets to the grassroots which are the essence of the third tier government.
