LG polls: RSIEC acted within the law, says Amaechi

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has said the recent announcement by the State Independent Electoral Commission (RESIEC) to conduct local council elections in the state is in conformity with the law.
Speaking on Monday in Port Harcourt, Amaechi stressed that RSIEC is mandated by law to organize local elections and has acted in accordance with the prescribed laws.
“If they are complying with the law, then they are in order, if they are not complying with the law, then they (PDP) should go to the State High Court and stop it. If they go to the Federal High Court, they should know that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction and I hope that everybody will be careful this time because the Federal Government will be serious with anybody who decides to manipulate the system”.
He maintained that the elections will allow the electorate to choose who will govern them. “You know in the last (general) elections, the people did not choose who will govern them. But this time it will allow the people to choose who will govern them as chairmen of council and councillors. I don’t see how they can stop the local government council elections from going on”.
Amaechi equally cleared the air over media report that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was having internal wrangling over ministerial appointments, saying the party was yet to conclude on the matter.
“There have not been any crisis whatsoever since the elections. There has been only one meeting that was held that has to do with zoning of offices and they said the elders should go and zone the offices and the elders are yet to return to the party. So all you are hearing are speculations”.
The Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) backed the President-elect, Gen. Buhari’s announcement that all in-coming ministerial appointees must declare their assets.
“They don’t have any choice. If you want to serve in the new administration you will have to abide by the rule to publicly declare your assets”, Amaechi added.