Date Published: 11/10/09

Rivers: Acid test for Sekibo, Awuse in Opobo councillorship poll

FORMER Transport Minister, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, and the ''Bulldozer of Rivers Politics'', Chief Sergeant Awuse, who are now stalwarts of the Action Congress (AC), are likely to face their first political acid test in the forth coming councillorship bye-election in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State billed for January 23, 2010.

Political parties interested in contesting the poll for Ward 4, Ukonu, Opobo Town in the council area are required to forward an expression of interest letter to the state's Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and collect a schedule of the Electoral Time-table from the Secretary of the commission, on or before November 16, 2009

Rivers Commissioner for Public Affairs and Civic Education, Nimi Watson-Jack, who made the forthcoming poll known in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said, ''the councillorship seat for Ward 4, Ukonu, Opobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council of Rivers State is hereby declared vacant. The council seat became vacant as a result of the unfortunate death of the Councillor representing the Ward, Hon. Adasa Henderson Jim Wariso, on  September 6, 2009''.

The fact of the death of the councillor, according to the commissioner, was communicated to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission by the Clerk of the Opobo/Nkoro Legislative Council, Ogenma Thankgod, via a letter referenced ONOLGA/LEG/003/Vol. 1 and dated October 25, 2009.

Section 65 of the state's Local Government Law (No. 6) of 2007 however, provides that “where… the seat of a Councillor becomes vacant, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission shall conduct a Bye-Election to fill such vacancy within three (3) months of the vacancy.”

The state electoral body will on Saturday, January 23, 2010 conduct a bye-election in the 11 polling units of Ward 4, Ukonu, Opobo Town, to fill the vacancy that has arisen following the aforesaid death of the elected councillor.

Political parties are reminded that in accordance with the Law, Candidates eligible to be presented for the bye-election are only those selected or nominated by the political parties in accordance with their respective constitutions and at primaries monitored and supervised by the state electoral commission.

''The electoral time-table released by the commission specifies that primaries of political parties for the nomination of candidates shall hold on Saturday, December 19, 2009'', Watson-Jack said.