Group Threatens to Drag RISIEC, Amaechi to Court

The Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), a campaign platform for the governor-elect in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has threatened to go to court over the May 23, 2015 date for the local government election in the state.

The State Independent Electoral Commission, had on Tuesday, announced that it would conduct local government elections on May 23, this year.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Augustine Ahiazu, said in Port Harcourt that the polls would take place in all the councils, except Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

Ahiazu had maintained that the commission was relying on the State Independent Electoral Law No.2 of 2001 as amended and State Local Government Law No.3 of 1999 as amended, to conduct the election.

Ahiauzu said political parties were eligible to sponsor candidates for the election if they were able to complete and submit their expression of interest forms before April 24, 2015.

But the President General of the GDI, Mr. Bright Amaewhule, described the position of RISIEC as illegal, adding that the electoral commission was expected to give a 90-day notice to political parties before the council election.