Ijaw youths: We’ll resist any attempt to disrupt Rivers LG polls

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) says it will resist any attempt to disrupt the LGA poll in Rivers state.

The election is scheduled for Saturday, October 5.

There have been protests and counter-protests over the planned LG election in the south-south state.

Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers, on Thursday, Theophilus Alaye, IYC president, said the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has all it takes to conduct the election.

“As Ijaw youths, we won’t allow any individual or groups of persons to disrupt the upcoming local government elections,” he said.

“We, the Ijaw people, are laying the golden egg to feed this country, and we won’t allow anyone to disrespect our humble and peaceful son, the executive governor of Rivers state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

“It is appalling to note that courts of coordinate jurisdictions are giving conflicting judgements to stop the conduct of local government election in Rivers state which IYC considers very unfortunate.

“As a youth body renowned for speaking against injustice and advancing the course of peace, justice and accountability, we urge the Nigeria police, which is the lead security agency in the country statutorily empowered to provide security during national and state elections, to support the Rivers state government to conduct the local government election.

“We also in that same vein call on INEC to be independent and play to her constitutionally given mandate of releasing all necessary information needed by RSIEC, to enable them to carry out a credible election and not allow themselves to be used as an enemy of the people and democracy.”

The IYC president implored judges not to allow themselves to be used by politicians.