Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared Thursday, March 17 and Friday, March 18 as work-free days for the re-run legislative elections in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct elections for 22 of the 32 House of Assembly seats, 12 of the 13 House of Representatives seats and the three Senatorial Districts on March 19.
The governor, who made the announcement in a state-wide broadcast on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, said the work-free days would enable workers in the public and private sectors participate in the elections.
“Consequently, all public and private offices, including banks must remain closed for the duration of the holidays,” he said.
He urged the people to cast their ballots for candidates that would stand for their rights and promote their collective interests in the National Assembly.
“You will also be electing worthy representatives to the State House of Assembly to join me to deliver our developmental agenda and help chart the future of our state through effective legislation and oversight,” he said.
Wike said that the state government had requested the armed forces to increase security surveillance in nine local government areas identified as flash points of cultism and banditry.
He said that the LGAs are: Abua/Odual, Ahoada-East, Ahoada-West, Emohua, Ikwerre, Opobo/Nkoro and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni.
He said that the security agencies had assured that they would not deviate from their role of safeguarding law and order before, during and after the elections.
“The Nigeria Police and other security agencies have put adequate measures to keep the peace and ensure an orderly conduct of the re-run elections throughout the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command on Wednesday announced restriction of movement from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 19 for re-run legislative elections.
DSP Ahmad Muhammad, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, made the announcement in a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
The statement said the decision was taken after due consultations with relevant stakeholders superintending the elections.
It said that the ban which would take effect from March 18 to March 20, would affect tricycles, motorcycles and engine speed boat with capacity of 200 horse power and above
“The Command further emphasises that Very Important Personalities are barred from going to any voting centre with their security escorts except for their unarmed orderly only.
“They are also to desist from moving about from one place to another on Election Day as provided by the electoral Act,” it said.
According to the statement, monitoring teams will be going around to ensure strict compliance and arrest security men accompanying any dignitary in such unauthorised manner.
While warning hoodlums to avoid going to polling booths or causing crisis, it called for continued support and cooperation of the people to ensure free and credible polls.
In a related development, Mr Anieidi Ikoiwak, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State, said on Wednesday that the Commission was yet to distribute sensitive materials for the March 19 re-run elections in the state.
Ikoiwak said in Port Harcourt that the sensitive materials were being awaited in the state.
“ We are distributing non- sensitive materials now. We are waiting for the arrival of the sensitive materials. That will be distributed on the morning of the elections,” he said.
The Commissioner explained that the sensitive materials would come in from the Central Bank, where it would be distributed to the local government areas on election day.
“ What this means is that, accreditation and voting will start at 8.00am and end by 2.00pm.
“Except for persons who arrived at the polling units before 2.00pm, nobody will be accredited or be allowed to vote after that,” he said.
Ikoiwak said polls would take place in 4,442 polling units and about 1,000 voting points.
“ Voting points are created in areas where the population of polling units is high in order to ease voting and accreditation challenges during elections.
“ There will be about 20,000 ad-hoc staff at the polling units,” he said.
Ikoiwak said that about 4,000 extra ad-hoc staff would be deployed to work in Area Registration Centres, where the sensitive materials would be domiciled and as Supervisors, Collation Officers and Returning Officers.
“ We are sourcing these personnel from only the Federal Agencies, including university students from Federal Universities,” he said.
Ikoiwak, however, said INEC staff from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Edo and Delta states would assist in the election.
