Onyedi Gabriel, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has restricted vehicular and human movements in, within and out of the state from the midnight of Friday till 5pm on Saturday for smooth conduct of local government elections.
The governor in a state broadcast said the order followed the fixing of the council elections for April 17th by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
He said, “Consequently, vehicular and human movements in, within and out of the State and the Local Government Areas is hereby totally restricted from the midnight of Friday 16th April 2021 to and until the end of polling at 5.00 p.m. on Saturday 17th April 2021, except for persons and vehicles strictly on essential duties with genuine and valid identifications.
“The security agencies have been directed to strictly enforce the restriction on human and vehicular movements and arrest and prosecute any person who dares to violate this ban. I have been briefed and received assurances from the RVSIEC that it is fully prepared and ready not only to conduct but also to ensure that polling is hitch-free, fair and credible.”
Wike said he had received briefings and assurances from the state’s Security High Command about the preparedness of security agencies to provide adequate security at all the polling units and collation centres to guarantee safe, secure and peaceful election.
He urged voters to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the election and refrain from any act or behaviour that could cause a threat to the peaceful conduct of the election.