PRESS RELEASE
March 16, 2004.

RSIEC BEGINS TRAINING OF ADHOC STAFF

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission is to commence the training of adhoc staff for the March 27 Local Government Council election on Thursday this week.

A statement signed by the Commissioner in charge of Field Services an Training Hon. Serekara Wifa said that the training of Local Government and Ward Returning Officers will take place at the Commission's headquarters on Thursday 18th and Friday 20th March, 2004.

Hon. Wifa also gave Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd of March as days for the training of Supervisory Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers, Poll Clerks and Poll Orderlies at the 23 Local Government Area offices of the electoral body.

The commissioner who gave 9am fore the commencement of the training programme at all centers advised both those who applied for the various positions as well as others interested to work as adhoc staff to report with their credentials for the exercise.

He warned politicians and others with sympathies for political parties to steer clear of the training centers.

SAM WOKA
Director, Public Affairs

PRESS RELEASE
17/03/2004

NLC TO SUPPORT RIVERS ELECTORAL BODY

THE Nigeria Labour congress NLC in Rivers State has pledged the support of workers in the State for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

The Chairman of the State council of the congress Comrade Sam Accra Jaja made the pledge while on a courtesy call to the headquarters of the Commission.

Dr Accra Jaja who said that the congress would monitor the Local government election expressesed that satisfaction of workers in the State on the conduct on the conduct of the electoral body so far.

He warn of that the labour congress would frown at political parties and individuals who believe in using violence and thuggery rather than persuation and good programs to win the election.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Dr Senibo Sam Sam Jaja reassured the parties as well as the electorate of the transparency of the commission.

He thanked the labour congress for the encouragement and support to the electoral body.

Dr Sam Jaja said that the electoral body would not only train the adhoc staff for the election but the observers and journalist on their conduct and expectation during the election.

Sam Woka
Director Public affairs

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, in less than one year of its establishment hosted the 2nd Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) Conference in Port Harcourt on March 29 2001.

In July of the same year, the Commission tested its ability and readiness to conduct free and fair elections by conducting bye-election into eight wards of four local government areas (Abua/Odual, Andoni, Khana and Port Harcourt) of the state. The election was adjudged by the then existing three political parties of AD, APP and PDP and observers as not only being free and fair but also peaceful and credible. This not withstanding, there were some lapses detected which the Commission is determined to prevent in subsequent elections.

- The RSIEC was fully prepared to conduct the local government elections in April 2002, May, 2002 and of course August 2002. All the efforts and attempts made were botched by circumstances beyond the control of the Commission.

- Staff training and development is an aspect of the commission's policy that had been seriously executed. Various inhouse training had been organized for members and staff of the commission. They have been enhanced through the attendance of a number of seminars, conferences and workshops.

- Regular political parties/Commissions meetings have been held to acquaint the parties with developments and expectations during elections. It usually takes the form of interactive meetings where ideas for the building of confidence are exchanged. A fall out from this interactive session is the tour of the 23 local government areas by the Commission for the purposes of correcting the imbalance observed in the existing ward delimination.

The Commission for convenience has moved to a new and befitting Read Office at Plot 239-243 PH/Aba Express Road, Port Harcourt.

Chibike Ikenga
HON. COMMISSIONER
Public Affairs and Political Clearance.