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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), has fixed October 5 for the conduct of local government elections in the state.
The commission disclosed this after meeting with the leaders of political parties and major stakeholders in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Monday.
The announcement marks the beginning of preparations for the elections after Governor Siminalayi Fubara dissolved the former councils after their tenure expired.
Part of the highlights of the meeting include the unveiling of the timetable and guidelines for the local government elections in the state.
This is coming as the police in the state have maintained the occupation of the local government secretariats following the leadership crisis rocking the councils.
Following the expiration of tenure of the elected chairmen and councillors of the 23 councils, Fubara inaugurated caretaker committees pending the conduct of council elections.
However, the development had sparked protests by the outgone chairmen loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
They are insisting that the Martins Amaewhule-led state assembly had extended their tenure by six months in the repealed local government administration law of the state.
However, RSIEC met with the leaders of political parties and major stakeholders in the state over the conduct of the elections
Also, the Court of Appeal may soon make pronouncement on the cases instituted by both factions laying claims to the leadership of the councils.