By Davies Iheamnachor

PORT HAR-COURT— Rivers State Government has challenged All Progressives Congress, APC, to contest the local government elections scheduled for June  16, across the state to prove its popularity.

It should be recalled that APC in the state, had said it would not participate in the elections, claiming that Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, has no legal right to conduct the polls when matters bordering on the constitution of the body are still pending in court.

But Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emmanuel Okah, speaking at Iguruta community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state during the inauguration of the campaign team of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the council for the LG polls, called on APC to reconsider its stance on the election.

Okah argued that the call was necessary for the APC to prove that it was on ground to win elections in the state, noting that the PDP was over 95 percent in control of the state, saying: “We do not want APC to opt out of the election because we do not want them to feel defeated even before defeat. They should come and prove their popularity. Let them come and contest the election, the doors are open as a level playing field will be provided. The governor has assured that RSIEC will conduct a free and fair election.”

Meanwhile, the chairmanship candidate of the PDP in Ikwerre LGA for the polls, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, promised to provide employment to youths of the council through agriculture and education.

Nwanosike said: “For the very first time we are going to have a bureau of employment. It will go round the world to get job opportunities and expose them to our people, prepare them to be able to stand their interviewers.”