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Frontline human rights organization in Port Harcourt, Pilex Center, has urged citizens of Rivers State to boycott the local government elections scheduled for August by the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd).
In a release made available to newsmen on July 21, 2025, Excutive Director of Pilex Center, Courage Nsirimovu Esq, described the proposed election as illegal, unconstitutional and billed to be a waste of Rivers human and financial resources.
He urged Nigerians and Rivers people to revisit the recent utterances of the Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, “who spoke in veiled condemnation of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State at a book launch.
The executive director of Pilex Center stressed that the president has no right to declare the state of emergency, adding that “consequently, the imposition of a sole administrator and attempts by him to reconstitute the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to oversee the said election, is an anomaly.”
Nsirimovu further noted that activities lined up for the election like the party primaries to pick candidates, have not held and pointed out that only an elected governor can by the constitution of Nigeria, conduct local government elections.
He said, “the sole duty of a sole administrator is to maintain peace.”
Full text of the statement reads: “Pilex Centre is aware of the plan by the illegitimate Sole Administrator in Rivers State to conduct the Local Government Elections.
“It is the view of Pilex Centre that the unconstitutional Sole Administrator doesn’t have the constitutional powers to set up RSIEC as stipulated in S. 198 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (As amended). Only an elected governor can set up such body.
“The job of the unlawful Sole-Administrator is to ensure peace in a state that was not at war. However, he has moved beyond his mandate to do the job of delivering the political and economic structure of Rivers State to some very greedy politician whom he acts in proxy for.
“The powers of the President of Nigeria under S. 305 to declare State of Emergency, is in no way expanded to include the power to suspend or remove a sitting governor duly elected by the people.In the case of A.G Federation V A.G Lagos State and A.G Plateau State V A.G Federation, the court stated that the President has no powers to suspend or remove a sitting governor.
“Pilex Centre invites Nigerians to listen to the recent statement of the Vice President of Nigeria, Mr. Shetima, who told Nigerians that, “President Jonathan wanted to remove me as governor through emergency rule order, but the then Attorney General and Speaker informed him that he doesn’t have the power to remove even an elected councilor.
“Taking a cue, from the foregoing, it is apparent that the President of Nigeria acted in impunity against the Constitution of Nigeria and good people of Rivers State, hence, the Sole Administrator is a fruit of a poisonous tree, a bad product of crass illegality and brash impunity.
“As such, every action taken by the Sole Administrator on the quicksand which he stands, will fall with him and drown without any remedy whatsoever.
“Hence, we call on the people of Rivers State to stay away from this illegal regime and its unlawful actions by boycotting the proposed unlawful Local Government Election.
“Pilex Centre has looked at the election time table and seen that party primaries, nominations, campaigns, slated for April/May, June have not been conducted. One wonders what sham they intend to do.
“Pilex Centre hereby warns the Sole Administrator not to waste tax payers’ money as the proposed unlawful election will be challenged in court and thrown away as another waste of time and resources of Rivers People.
“We re-iterate that Rivers People should not waste their time to vote because the election will not stand.
“Boycott The Election”.
